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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Chap.I.^ab Copyright No. 

Shelf_.LQ.7i. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE- 



Young People's History 



OF 



INDIANA 



BY 






JULIA S CONKLIN. 




Indianapolis: 

Sentinel Printing Company, 

1S99, 






8E^ 1 



e'S' 



^2*16 



Copyright 1S99 

BY 

Julia S. Conklin, 






V 



n.^ 



Cl 



« ^ 



.1899 



% 






•CCOND OOPY. 



DEDICATION, 



To my nephews, Myron and Emil Cook, 
and the little g rl who tried so hard to 
" be good " while auntie wrote this book. 



" The winds of Heaven never fanned, 
The circling sunlight never spanned, 
The borders of a fairer land 
Than our own Indiana." 

—Sarah T. Bolton. 



A LETTER. 



My Dear Young Friends: You have read of Aladdin and his 
wonderful lamp and of the genii who turned everything into glit- 
tering gold, and commonplace surroundings into palaces of 
delight. 

The story I have to tell you is more wonderful than any tale 
of fairy or genie. It tells how an almost limitless wilderness was 
turned into a great and prosperous State — not in a moment's time, 
by the waving of a wand — but by the patient toil of thousands of 
brave and sturdy men and women, in a period of less than one 
hundred years. They were the genii who swept away the forests, 
made the farms, built the cities and established civilization. 

The merit of this story lies in the truth of its magic, and in 
this it is superior to any fairy tale. There are those yet living 
who have witnessed much of this wonderful transformation, and 
it seems a fitting time, at the close of this Nineteenth Century, that 
the young people of Indiana should be told that all the growth, 
all the progress and improvement in Indiana has been made since 
1800. Indeed, Indiana is one of the miracles of the closing 
century. 

In giving this little book to you it is my sincere desire that 
you may derive half the pleasure in reading that I did in writing 
it. This is scarcely to be expected, however, for the entire year 
which I devoted to its preparation was a constant delight — the 
very happiest of my life, so in point of time, at least, I have the 
advantage of my readers. 

If, like the heroes and heroines of the old fairy tales, I should 
be granted three wishes concerning this book — shall I tell you 
what they would be? 

1st. I would create in the minds and hearts of the boys and 
girls of Indiana a genuine love and pride for our State; a desire to 
know more about her and a determination to be worthy to be 
called her citizens. 

2d. I would teach them that in the Union of States there is 
none better than our own; that nowhere does the sun shine 
brighter, do the birds sing sweeter, nor are the flowers more fra- 



6 A LETTEH. 

grant than in Indiana; that her cities are as beautiful, her fields as 
fertile, her institutions as great, her people as talented as any to be 
found on the continent. 

3d. I would teach them to love and respect the memory of 
the men and women, who, by toil and through hardships made 
Indiana what she is to-day. They were not all cultured men and 
women, perhaps, and some of them were uneducated, but they 
were brave and true, and we are indebted to them for all the 
advantages we enjoy. 

Tliere has long been a tendency to depreciate our ow^n State. 
We have not been a boastful com mon weal l4i; we have not exalted 
our own. But the time has come when the word "Iloosier" is no 
longer a term of ridicule, but one in which we may take pride. 
Tlio time will a.me when like liomc of old, we maj^ say, "Why, to 
bo a ' Iloosier' is greater than a king." 

I cannot close without acknowledging my obligation to those 
friends who gave me timely aid in the preparation of this book. 
Some of them must be nameless, but I am none the less gmteful 
to them. Among the books that have been helpful to me I would 
mention J. B. Dillon's "History of Indiana"; W. H. English's 
"Conquest of the Northwestern Territory"; W. W. Woollen's 
"Biographical Sketches of Early Indiana"; J. P. Dunn's '"Indiana 
a Redemption from Slavery"; W. II. Smith's '"History of Indiana," 
and W. W. Thornton's "Government of the State of Indiana." 

I am under a deep sense of gratitude to the Hon. William 
Wesley Woollen, President of Indiana Historical Societ}^ for his 
great kindness and helpful advice in my work. I send this little 
book to meet its fate with greater courage and confidence because 
he has said " It is w^ell." 

J. S. C. 

Westfield, Ind., Aug. 2G, 1899. 



COI^TEKTS. 



PAGE. 

Chapter I. Pre-Historic Indiana— The Mound Builders— North American 
Indians ^ 

Chapter II. Early Explorations— Missionaries— LaSalle Visits Indiana, Dis- 
covers the Mouth of the Mississippi River and Takes Possession of the 
Country in the Name of France 19 

Chapter III. The French King Causes Forts to be Built— The Territory 
Divided into Two Provinces— French Forts in Indiana— The British Oain 
a Foothold in Indiana— Passes into the Hands of the British— War Between 
England and Mexico 29 

Chapter IV. Pontiac's War— Indians Attack the Forts and Control the Ohio 
Valley 39 

Chaptkr V. Indiana Becomes a Part of Canada— England at War with the 
American colonies— Revolutionary War 49 

Chapter VI. Conquest of the Northwestern Territory by George Rogers Clark 54 

Chapter VII Fort Gage (Vincennes) Surrenders to the Americans— Re-taken 
by the British— Captured by Colonel Clark— The First American Flag 
Displayed in Indiana 66 

Chapter VIII. Colonel John Todd Becomes Ruler Over the Territory- 
Condition of the Settlers -Miami Confederacy— Indiana the Property 
of the United States— Indian Outlireaks 78 

Chapter IX. First Laws Published in Indiana— Territorial Legislature 
Formed— Vincennes 91 

Chapter X. The Northwestern Territory Divided— Indiana Territory 
Formed— Wm. Henry Harrison Governor— Aaron Burr— Negro Slavery 
Indiana Territory Divided— Second Grade Government— Firist Territorial 
Legislature 1^1 

Chatter XI. Tecumseh and the Prophet— Fort Harrison Erected— Battle of 
Tippecanoe— The Prophet's Influence Destroyed 112 

Chapter XII Indian Outbreaks— War of "!812— Fort Harrison Attacked— 
Suffering of the Settlers— Tecumseh Killed— Indians Murdered Near 
Pendleton 130 

Chapter XITI. Capital Removed to Corydon— Right of Suffrage Extended- 
Thomas Posey Appointed Governor— Congress Passes an Act Enabling 
Indiana to Form a State Constitution 145 

Chapter XIV. First Constitutional Convention— Indiana Becomes a State- 
Jonathan Jennings Govenor 152 

Chapter XV. Why it is Necessary that States Should Have Constitiitions— 
Division of State Government— Duties of State, County and Township 



Officers . 



157 



Chapter XVI. Recapitulation— Journey to the Forest Home— Settler's Cabin 
—Hardships of Pioneer Life— Progress of a Hundred Years 168 

Chapter XVII. Life and O'^cupations of the Settlers— Unhealthful Condi- 
tion of the Country— Improvement in Manner of Living 181 

Chapter XVIII. Surveying— Difficulties Encountered by the Early Surveyors ^^ 
—Sale of Land 1^ 

(7) 



8 . CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 
Chapter XIX. Character of the Early Settlers— Religious Worship— The 
Circuit Riders- New Harmony 198 

Chapter XX. First Schools in Indiana— DiiTiculties of Obtaining an Educa- 
tion—Spelling Schools 203 

Chapter XXI. Public Fchool System— How a Public School Fund was Estab- 
lished and Maintained— Other Schools and Colleges 213 

Chapter XXII. Land Donated for a State Capital— Indianapolis on Paper- 
As It Was, and Is— Governor's Circle— First Railroad 220 

Chapter XXIII. Internal Improvement System— Roads and Canals in In- 
diana—Financial Distress— State Debt 228 

Chapter XXIV. The Old National Road— Manner of Travel— Stage Coaches- 
Wagoners — Coming of the Railroads 289 

Chapter XXV. The Second Constitutional Convention— The Men Who Made 
Our Constitution— Their Nationality and Occupations 249 

Chapter XXVI. The First Legislature Under the New Constitution— The 
Laws of the State Re constructed— How Laws are Made 257 

Chapter XXVII. Early Indiana Banks— Method of Banking— Anti-Slavery 
Movement- Underground Railroad 264 

Chapter XXVIII. The War for the Union— Indiana's Response to the Call for 
Volanteers— Special Session of the Legislature— Indianapolis a Great Mili- 
tary Center 267 

Chapter XXIX. The War in Indiana— Johnson with a Band of Guerrillas 
Invades Newburg 277 

Chapter XXX. John Morgan Crosses the Ohio River and Invades Southern 
Indiana— Alarm Throujrhout the State— State Troops March Against 
Morgan— He Makes His Escape into Ohio and is Captured 284 

Chapter XXXI. Indiana After the War- Return of the Troops— Educational 
Advancement— The Present School System— Taxes— How Property is Taxed 296 

Chapter XXXII. Penal and Benevolent Institutions— How the State Provides 
for Its Criminals and Unfortunate Citizens 804 

Chapter XXXIII. Territorial Militia— Muster Day— Militia Abandoned— In- 
diana National Guards Organized— The Spanish- American War— Indiana's 
Part In It 310 

Chapter XXXIV. First Courts in Indiana— Judicial System of the States 
Elections— Who are Entitled to Vote— How Llections are Conducted and 
the Results Declared 317 

Chapter XXXV. Roads and Highways— Difficulty of Early Travel— Road 
Improvements— How Roads are Located and Built— Indiana Drainage 
System 326 

Chapter XXXVI. Physical Indiana— Fertility of the Soil— Hills, Lakes and 
Caverns— Natural Resources— Coal— Building Stone— Natural Gas 332 

Chapter XXXVII. Governors of Indiana— Territorial and State— Brief Biog- 
raphies-Other Prominent Men and Women of the State 838 

Appendix A. Counties— Name and Organization 371 

Appendix B. Names and Terms of Governors 373 

Appendix C. United States Senators 374 

Tabulated Statement 375 

Illustrations. 



THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 



CHAPTER I. 
Pre-Historic Indiana — The Mound Builders — American Indians. 

If you look on tlie map of the United States you will see 
tliat about one-fourth of the distance across the continent 
from east to west, and near the center from north to south, 
lies that part of the country known by the pleasing name of 
Indiana. 

To the north lies the State of ]\Iichigan, and the north- 
western corner is laved by a lake of the game name, on 
whose broad \vaters float great ships of commerce. On the 
east borders the State of Ohio, and on the west stretch the 
broad prairies of Illinois. The Ohio River winds its 
crooked way through the hills on the south, and by it3 
meanderings forms the irregular outline of the southern 
part of the State. Across this noted stream rise the beau- 
tiful hills of ]ventucky, sometimes called the ''Gateway to 
the South," and on its waters are to be seen the river steam- 
ers and other boats wliicli ply between Pittsbuig and 
^ew Orleans. 

The distance across Indiana from east to west is about 
one huTidred and fifty miles, and the extreme length is two 
hundred and seventy-six miles. AVitliin these boundaries 
lie thirty-five thousand nine hundred and ten square miles* 
of land as rich and productive as can be found in America. 

♦McNally, 1895. 



10 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Now, let "lis look at the map of Indiana, and see what we 
can learn from it. The first tliin<:^ Avhich attracts our atten- 
tion, is the niimerons crooked lines which wind about over 
its surface. These are the rivers and creeks which drain 
the country, and help to make it fertile by carrying off the 
waste water, which, if allowed to remain on the land, or to 
sink into the ground, would render it unheal thful and unfit 
for cultivation. 

The largest of these streams is the Wabash Iliver, which 
enters the State from the east, and after flowing in a north- 
westerly direction for some distance, changes its course and 
flows in a southwesterly direction across the State, forming 
a part of the boundary on the west, between Indiana and 
Illinois, and empties into the Ohio Iliver in the extreme 
southwestern comer of Indiana. 

In the northeastern part of Indiana, two other rivers, the 
St. Joseph and St. Mary, unite and form the Maumee River, 
which flows in a direction exactly opposite to the Wabash, 
and finds its way to Lake Erie in the northeast. It seems 
curious that these two streams so near each other, should 
flow in exactly opposite directions. The reason of this is 
that the land between these streams is very high ; in fact, it 
is one of the highest points in the State, and the water which 
fails in this locality divides itself, a part of it flowing into the 
Maumee, on the northeast, the remainder flowing into the 
streams which empty into the Wabash, on the southwest, 
just as the water which falls upon the roof of a house di- 
vides and flows down to the eaves on both sides. This high . 
point of land is called a water-shed, and here Fort Wayne, 
which Is sometimes appropriately called the "Summit City," 
is located. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. H 

The next largest streams of water in Indiana, are the two 
forks of AVliite River, which rise in the eastern part of the 
State, and flow toward the southwest until they near the 
Wabash, v/liere they unite, and continuing their coui^se, 
empty into that river about twenty miles below the city of 
Yincennes; here they all unite 'and journey together until 
they reach the Ohio River. 

In the northwest the Kankakee River seeks an outlet 
through tlie Illinois River to the Mississippi. There are 
many other smaller stre^ams in the State, and they nearly all 
find their w^ay to the Wabash, and finally reach the Gulf of 
Mexico through the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. 

Examine the map yet more closely and you will see many, 
many little dots scattered over the surface; there are hun- 
dreds of them, and they represent cities, towns and villages. 
Look closely and you will see that they are almost all con- 
nected with each other, directly, or indirectly, by finely 
drawn lines. These are railroads, and there are so many of 
them that they form a network of iron over the State. 
(Indiana has S^S'iT miles of railroads.) Look again, and 
YOU Avill see that nianv of these lines come toofethei and 
unite at one point near the center of the State, and al this 
point there is a larger dot, or star; that represents Indianap- 
olis, the capital of Indiana. Here lives the Governor, and 
here the laws are made which govern the people of the 
State. It is a great city, and there are other large and im- 
portant cities in Indiana of which we will speak later. The 
entire State is enriched by them and their industries. 

Between these cities, towns and villages lies a vast agri- 
cultural district. Xo State can boast of finer farms, or 
richer land than ours. As far as the eve can reach strotok 



12 YOUNG PEOPLE'S JlISTORY OF INDIANA. 

meadows, orchards and fields of grain, with cool, shady 
woodlands here and there, which add beauty to the land- 
scape. Comfortable and prosperous homes are seen on 
every side. Cottages and mansions are scattered here 'and. 
there, and everywhere are seen evidences of thrift and. pros- 
perity. Every neighborhood has a school-house, and 
churches lift aloft tJieir pointed spires and seem to direct us 
to a life beyond the skies. These homes are connected with 
each other land with the schools, churches, villages and 
cities, by roads called public. high ways. By means of them 
the people can communicate Avith each other, and can know 
what is taking place in the big world outside their own com- 
munity. 

But it was not always so. There was a time, many years 
ago, when this broad, prosperous land was but a wilderness; 
a deep, dark, almost impenetrable forest, whose occupants 
were w^ild beasts, feathered songsters, slimy reptiles and 
tribes of wild men. There were no homes, no schools, no 
churches, but from the shores of the Ohio Kiver to the 
Northern Lakes, and on, on, there were vast forests, un- 
known to the white man's tread. The restless streams 
whi(!li drain our beautiful country, woimd their way 
through forest glades and only knew the dip of the Indian 
canoe, — those shady isles, but the stealthy tread of wild 
beasts and wild men. 

I or how many ages those deep forests had been undis- 
turbed save by the red men, no one can tell; neither is it 
known whence the Indians came; but however long may 
have been the time that the North American Indians pos- 
sessed this country, it is certain that before their coming, 
the territory of Indiana was inhabited by another people, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 13 

between whom and the Indians no one has been able to 
establish 'a connecting link. For want of a better name, 
these ])eople are spoken of as the ^'Mound Builders." This 
name is given them on account of the large number of 
mounds of earth and stone wdiich they have left to tell us 
of their existence. These mounds are found in different 
parts of the State, especially in the eastern and southern 
portions. 

Xothing is known of the Mound Builders except what 
has been learned from 'tlie objects taken from the mounds, 
which men have opened and examined. The articles usu- 
ally found are fragments of pottery and implements of 
stone. Skeletons have also been found buried beneath 
these great heaps of earth and stone, which doubtless have 
lain there for hundreds of years, and it seems strange when 
we remember that they were one time living beings, like 
ourselves. 

From the location of these mounds, which sometimes 
take one form, sometimes another, it is supposed that the 
Mound Buiklers were an agricultural people, and cultiva- 
ted the ground about 'their homes, for the country around 
these mounds is well adapted to farming — fertile, well 
drained and usually situated near some water-course. The 
size of the mounds, which are sometimes but a few feet 
high, and sometimes many feet above the level of the 
ground, proves that the country was at one time thickly in- 
habited by these unknown people, for with their means of 
digging and hauling earth and stones, many workmen must 
have been employed a great many months in their erection. 

AVhen the country now called Indiana was first discov- 
ered by Europeans, it was claimed and possessed by a num- 



14 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

bcr of Indian tribes calied the Miami Confederacy. The 
greatest among these tribes were the Miami Indians, v;ho, 
in former times, were called Twightwees. The Miamis 
were A^ery powerful and influential among the other In- 
dian tribes. They were greatly feared l)y their enemies 
and much sought after by tribes needing assistance. 

AVhen people organize for tlie purpose of government, 
there must be some method of grouping them. With the 
white race, this is done according to territory; that is, a man 
or a w^oman belo!igs to a certain State, or county, or town- 
ship; but the Indians divided themselves into tribes accord- 
ing to kinship, and were governed by a chief, or a number 
of chiefs. Sometimes several tribes would unite and form 
a confederacy for tlie purpose of protecting themselves 
against other unfriendly tribes. So it was with the tribes 
w^hich occupied Indiana. The territory claimed by this 
confederacy covered the entire States of Indiana, ^lichigan 
and Illinois, and a portion of Ohio. 

AVe have no means of knowing when the Miami Indians 
came to tliis country, nor whence they caine^ The Indians 
had no written language, and no record of events except 
the ^'Indian legends," the truth of which we have no means 
of proving, but ''Little Turtle," a distinguished Miami 
chief, said that his fathers had occupied the country from 
"time immemorial." 

When first known, these tribes lived in small villager 
built at different places Avithin the territor)', jDrincipally 
near the AVabash River and its tributaries. Their dwcllinc^s 
were mde huts made of small logs, or wig^vams made ol 
poles stuck in the ground and tied together with pliant strips 
of bark, and covered with the skins of animals, large pieces 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 15 

of bark, Oir.a kind of mat made of flags wliicli grew in 
swampy places. Some of these lodges, or wigwams, were 
portable and were moved from place to place when the In- 
dians scattered during the hunting season. In summer 
they hunted and fished, or made war upon other tribes. In 
winter they gathered in villages and passed the time in 
games and play. 

The men made weapons of war whicli, before the coming 
of the whites, consisted of a spear or javelin, a bow and ar- 
rows, pointed with barbed stone, a tomahawk, or stone 
hatchet fastened to a liandle by withes, and a war club made 
by enclosing a stone in rawhide, with a handle made of the 
same material twisted and hardened. Their canoes were 
made of logs burned out and made smooth with sharp shells, 
or of birch bark which the women sewed together with long, 
strong threads which the}' p'celed from the roots of trees. 
The women dressed the game v/hicli the hunters brought 
home, cooked the food and carried the burdens when they 
moved from place to place. 

Around their permanent villages, patches of ground were 
cleared, and on these the women raised corn, beans, sq[uash- 
es, pumpkins, melons, tobacco and a kind of wild cucumber. 
They had no tools such as farmers use, but dug up the 
ground with the sharp bones of animals, tortoise shells, or 
fiat stones. Later, they exchanged furs with the whites for 
iron hoes. The Indians were not very thoughtful for their 
future wants, and would feast one day and go hungry the 
next. 

Their clothing was made of the skins of animals, some- 
times rudely embroidered with beads made of shells. They 
were very fond of decorations and adorned themselves with 



16 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the claws and teetli of animals and tlie beaks and feathers 
of birds, quite like the civilized people of to-day. The men 
Avore but little clothing and tatooed the exposed parts of the 
body, wliile the women were usually well clothed. Both 
men and women went ' bareheaded, wore their hair long 
and j^ainted their faces. They wore moccasins on their 
feet, and made necklaces, bracelets and belts of shells, 
which they wore around their necks, arms land ankles, and 
some tribes wore large rings in their ears iand noses. In 
their councils they used belts made of beads, called wam- 
pum, as pledges with each other, and carefully preserved 
them as we do written records. The beads of the wampum 
belts were made of shells found on the seashore, and sawed 
into an oblong form, 'about a quarter of an inch long, and 
made round like other beads. They were strung on leather 
strings and several strands sewed together with fine sinewy 
thread. The shells were usually of two colors, violet and 
white. The violet were more highly prized by the Indians, 
who valued them as we do gold, silver and precious stones. 
Wampum belts were often w^orked in figures, expressing the 
meaning they were intended to preserve. Thus, at a treaty 
of peace the principal belt often bore the figures of an In- 
dian and a white man holding a chain between them. 

The Indians were very fond of games, 'especially those 
of chance. The little Indian boys amused themselves by fly- 
ing kites, playing at ball and bat, marbles, and many other 
games that white boys like to play — such as hide and seek, 
leaping, climbing, and shooting with bows and arrows. The 
little girls had their dolls, and doubtless made clothes for 
them out of the skins of little animals, and played at house- 
keeping in queer little bark wigwams, and, in fact, v/ere 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 17 

much like other children who imitate the lives and occupa- 
tions of those about them. 

The Indian mothers had a very strange way of taking 
care of their bahies. or pappooses, as they called them. 
^VhoA very young they were bound fast to a board to make 
them grow straiglit. When the mother went on a journey, 
or wished to m.ove them from place to place, she carried 
them strapped to her back. When at her journey's end, or 
when she wished to rest or sleep, she stood the board 
against some oliject, or fastened it to the bouglis of a tree, 
where the little one was rocked to sleep by the swaying 
boughs and slej)t as cosily as any little white child in its 
snowy crib at its mother's side. 

The Indians expressed their 'anger, their joys and their 
sorrows in wild dances. They practiced a great variety of 
them, all of which had some particular meaning. They had 
the corn-planting dance, by which they hoped to secure 'the 
favor of the ^'Great Spirit" that their crops might be bounti- 
ful; the beggar dance; the dance after the death of one of 
their tribe; the dance of the medicine man, after he had 
cured disease, and many others. But the greatest of all 
their dances, and the one that best satisfied their savage na- 
tures, was the war dance. 

They were kind and hospitable to their friends, but very 
cruel to their enemies. When a prisoner was taken in war, 
he was certain to be put to death with the most horrible 
tortures, by slow fire, the ceremony of living cremation 
often lasting an entire day before the unfortunate victim 
was allowed to end his sufferings in death. Xeitlier old nor 
young, men nor women, Avere spared these cruel tortures, 
unless some one of the tribe who had lost a member of his 
2 



18 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

family, chose to adopt the captive to take his place. One of 
the principal burning places in Indiana was on the north 
bank of the Manmee River, v/here the St. Joseph and the 
St. Marv Ttivers unite. 

ISTear all the Indian villages were cemeteries, where the 
dead were bnried, for only the li^dng were burned. With 
the dead warrior were nsnally placed his weapons, liis orna- 
ments and a dish, or jar, containing food, for the Indians be- 
lieved that the spirit of the dead needed food as it journeyed 
to the ^'happy hunting-ground," which was their heaven. 
The Indians^had a strange and wild religion. They be- 
lieved in a ^'Great Spii'it" who tuled the Avorld. Tliey be- 
lieved in a future existence, a life after death, a transfer to 
a happier state, or condition, where they Avould have the 
same desires, and enjoy the same pleasures, in a country 
abounding in game, where they could hunt and fish to their 
heart's content. They also believed in a "Bad Spirit,'' but 
had no fear of its troubling them after death. 

Jt is difficult to believe that the habit of eating human 
■flesh was ever common in Indiana; yet it is true that these 
Indian tribes were almost all of them at one time cannibals, 
and those slain in battle, as well as captives, were made ob- 
jects of the feast, and in times of famine it was tlie custom 
to kill and eat tlieir kindred. The Miami Indians contin- 
ued this practice longer than any other tribe — indeed, until 
after the Revolutionary w^ar. It became a religious cere- 
mony with them, and was finally confined to one family. It 
was a strange, terrible religion — very unlike that our Sa- 
viour taught — which demanded the eating of huunan flesh, 
and sometimes that of kindred. The early missionaries 
were often obliged to witness these sickening scenes and 
were powerless to prevent it. 



YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 19 

And SO, these wild people continued to live for no one 
knows how many ages, wandering through the forests and 
prairies, floating down the streams in their log or bark ca- 
noes, worshiping in their savage w\ay, killing wild animals 
and fighting each other, imtil the nations from over the sea 
foiund them, and wanted their land, their game and their 
furs, and then a change came into their lives. From this 
time they w^ere never again to roam their native forests 
vvithout fear of molestation. 



CHAPTER II. 

Early Explorations — Missionaries — The French take possession of 

the Country. 

From the time Columbus discovered America in 1492, 
more than one hundred and fifty years passed away before 
any part of Indiana was explored by Europeans; and all that 
time the savages roamed through the forests, fished in the 
streams, hunted wild animals and fought each other. But 
this was not to last always. Three great nations from over 
the sea' — Spain, France and England — heard of this won- 
derful country which Columbus had discovered, and deter- 
mined to possess at least a portion of it. 

They had been told that the soil was rich and productive; 
that the forests were full of wild game and the streams full 
of fish. They also believed that gold and silver, perhaps 
precious stones, could be found here, and they sent men in 
ships across the ocean to explore and take possession of the 
country, to form settlements, or colonies, in order to hold 



20 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the land and keep ont other nations, to barter with the In- 
dians and to search for gold. 

Spain sailed across the seas and sncceeded in planting a 
colony in Florida. The first permanent English settlement 
was at Jamestown, Virginia. France went farther north 
and established small colonies at Port Royal, ^ova Scotia, 
and at Quebec, Canada. Bnt they were not satisfied to stay 
in these places. They knew that the great country w^est was 
full of wild animals with rich and valuable furs, and they 
sent out men to trade for them. They brought articles of 
various kinds, wliich they traded to the Indians for the furs 
and skins of animals; these thev carried back to their own 
country and sold. 

They studied the tastes of the wild men, and filled their 
ships with the things that pleased them, such as blankets, 
bright colored cloth, traps, kettles, hoes, coarse cotton, rib- 
bons, beads and other trinkets which delighted the savages. 
But they did a very bad thing; they sold them intoxicating 
drinks, of which the Indians knew nothing Witil the white 
men came, and they traded them knives, hatchets, gtms, 
powder and other weapons, which the Indians afterward 
used to fight against the white people when they became an- 
gry with them, or dnink on the whiskey which they sold 
them, and their savage natures demanded the spilling of 
blood, or wdien they became alarmed lest the white men 
should take from them all their game and furs and rob them 
of the country which they had so long regarded las their 
own. 

Some of the white traders established trading-posts; that 
is, they built strong houses of logs, in w^hich they kept the 
articles they wished to sell to the Indians. To these places 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 21 

the savages brought tlieir furs and traded tliem for the 
thiugs they wanted. AVhen the traders had collected a large 
amount of furs and peltries, as the skins of animals were 
called, tliey loaded them into canoes and paddled down the 
streams until they reached larger streams, or rivers; then 
they transferred them to larger boats and took them to the 
towns on the sea coast and sold them to merchants, who 
shipped them to foreign countries. 

Some of the traders were too poor to build trading-posts, 
so they carried their merchandise in packs strapped to their 
shoulders, or with the strap resting against the forehead. 
In this way they traveled through the forests on foot, or 
floated down the streams in canoes, going from one Indian 
village to another, trading their goods for furs, which they 
carried back to the settlements and sold, buying other goods 
and trading them in the same manner. Doubtless the In- 
dian callages in Indiana, on the banks of the Wabash and 
other streams, were visited by this class of traders long be- 
fore any settlements were formed. What a strange life 
these traders lived, traveling from village to village, sleep- 
ing under the open sky at night, exposed to all kinds of dan- 
ger from wild beasts and wild men. 

. The first traders who came to Indiana Averc the French, 
who had settled in Canada, at Quebec and Montreal, and 
who, following the rivers and lakes in the north, opened up 
trade wath the Indians through this country. There Avas a 
class of men who were called "voyageurs," or 'Svood- 
nien," who, during these early times, did great service to the 
fur-traders. The "voyageurs" were originally young men 
from Canada, who, disliking the restraints of civilization, 
broke away from their families and took to the woods, liv- 



22 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

ing among the Indians and adopting their dress and many 
ol' their customs. These '^coureurs de bois" [kou-renr-de'- 
hoa], as the French called them, lived wild, reckless, lawless 
lives, spending the time hunting, fishing and trapping, trad- 
ing with the Indians, gliding through tlie sluggish streams 
in their long, narrow canoes, sleeping at night in some In- 
dian wiijwam or beneatli the open sky, and living upon the 
rough food of the forest. They endured all these hardships 
and preferred them to the tamer occupations of the settlers. 
It was indeed a strange, unenviahle life that those half sav- 
age men lived; liowever, chey were of great use to the early 
traders, who employed them as guides through the forests 
and pilots on the rivers. I'he name ^'voyageur" was after- 
w^ard applied to all men who lived in the forest and did not 
claim some French village as their home. 

As the country became better known, other traders cam©, 
and soon I ranee and England began to quarrel about the 
territory and commerce in Xorth America. Each nation 
secured as much land and trade as possible and tried to drive 
the other nations out of the country. 

About tlie year 16.50 the Englisli, wliO' lived in colonies 
along the Atlantic coast, attempted to plant a seltlement 
west of the Alleghany mountains and to open trade with the. 
Indians. As early as 1G70 the French settlements in Can- 
ada had extended along the sliores of the St. Lawrence 
Hiver, and the northern boundaries of Lalve Ontario and 
Lake Erie, and had sent traders to explore the country bor- 
dering on the gTeat ISTorthem Lakes, as far west as Lake Su- 
perior, and built trading-posts and small forts and sitockades 
at several places, lor the purpose of protecting the fur trade^ 
and had sent missionaries among many tribes of Indians, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 23 

In 1668 Fatlier I'ermin, a French priest, established a 
mission among the Seneca Indians, and was probably the 
first missionary who visited Indiana and Illinois. The 
French w^ere a Catholic people, and two of their mission- 
aries, Claude Allonez [Al-loo-a] and Clande Dablon, Avere 
the first white men known to have visited Indiana, yet 
doubtless the traders and woodmen were here before them. 
Between the years 1670 and 1672 these French priests ex- 
plored the eastern part of Wisconsin, the northeastern por- 
tion of Illinois, and that part of Indiana which lies north of 
the Kankakee Itiver, and tried to establish missions among 
the Indians. 

The missionaries were pious men, who, in the early times, 
left their homes and a civilized country and went among the 
savages, trying to persuade them to abandon their wild re- 
ligion and follow that of our Saviour. They gathered these 
savage people together in their smoky wigwams, or in cabiub 
they had built for the purpose, and prayed and sang with 
them and tried to teach them the lessons Christ taught when 
lie was npon earth. But it was very difiicult to make the 
Indians understand the teachings of Christianity. They 
were satisfied with their own religion and did not care to 
change their wild ways; and, •though the missionaries la- 
bored hard, and endured many privations and dangers, and 
though they succeeded in making better men of a few of 
the Indians, their elTorts were but poorly rewarded. Still, 
they did not despair of doing good, and it will be seen that 
in after vears one of them was of c,Teat service to tlie coun- 
try, and that one act of his had important effect upon the 
history of Indiana. 

The missionaries had great difficulty in traveling through 



24 YOUNG PEOPBE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the country. Sometimes for many days tliey would not see 
a single person; sometimes they h-ad to cross wide prairies 
which were like great oceans whose shores could not be seen, 
with no path to guide them, and many streams to cross, over 
which there were no bridges; sometimes they floated down 
ri^'ers in small boats, and often came to rapids, and water- 
falls, and rocky i)laces, and were obliged to go ashore and 
carry their canoe and luggage around them to keep from 
being dashed to pieces. Sometimes they traveled for days 
through dense forests full of wild beasts and poisonous ser- 
pents, and had to open a passage tlirough brush 'and thick 
undergrowtli of briars and thorns. Sometimes they waded 
tlirough deep marshes, in which they sank to their knees, 
and at night they had but the ground for ,a bed, softened, 
perhaps, l)y leaves of trees which they scraped together. 
'J'hcy were constantly exposed to wind and rain and all kinds 
of weather, and sometimes tliey were taken prisoners by the 
Indians, and in some cases they were put to death in a hor- 
rible manner. So, taken altogether, the missionaries had 
a very hard time of it. 

AVhile the n^issionaries were trying to teach the savages, 
and the traders were buying their furs and trading them 
merchandise, a fearless and enterprising young Frenchman 
named Robert Cavalier de La Salle, [Kav-le-a deli La Sal] 
who had been in command of a French fort in Canada, hav- 
ing listened to stories the mi?sionaries and traders told of the 
Mississippi River, and of the ricli country through which it 
flowed, concluded that it must fall into the Pacific Ocean 
and open a way to China and Japan. So he determined to 
explore the country, trade with the Indians and find the 
mouth of this great river. La Salle wa§ well fitted for ;hi3, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 25 

He was a brave man, not afraid of the liardsliips lie knew 
he must undergo in a country whose inhabitants were wild 
men and beasts, lie was well educated, and, what was of 
great importance, be knew several Indian languages; for 
vou must know tliat the Indians did not all speak the same 
tongue, but many tribes had languages of their own. 

. So, one July day, in the year 1669, La Salle, with a com- 
pany of about thirty men, sailors, pilots, carpenters and 
other mechanics, started on his perilous undertaking to find 
the mouth of the Mississippi Iliver. They loaded their boats 
with such things as they needed and sailed out through the 
St. Lawrence Hiver into Lake Ontario, until tlioy rea<,'hed 
its western shore. Here they left the lake to explore the 
country lying south of it. Following the streams, or water 
courses, which were the highways of the explorers, they at 
last reached the Ohio' lliver, which La Salle believed to be 
the Mississippi. They followed this river for a long dis- 
tance, and in the voyage traced it in its windings along the 
southern boundaries of Indiana. But the hardships of the 
journey proved too 'much for the courage of his men, and 
they all deserted, leaving their brave leader alone in the 
wilderness. After this, he was obliged to return, traveling 
the entire distance alone and living on such food as the In- 
dians gave him, or as he could find in the forest. 

This misfortune did not discourage La Salle, and it is said 
that fclie following year he made another attempt to reach 
the Mississippi Hiver. I'his time he passed through the 
northern lakes to the soutliern shores of Lake Michigan, and 
explored the country south as far as the Kankakee River in 
northwestern Indiana, and through this channel reached the 
Illinois Hiver. 



26 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

La Salle continued to explore the country and trade with 
die Indians, who informed him that he could reach the Mis- 
sissippi by way of the Maumee and AVabash Rivers, but the 
unfriendly Iroquois Indians, who were 'at war with the 
Miamis, would not allow the tradei-s to use this rouite very 
long. He met with many misfortunes, and had much to 
discourage him, but he held fast to his purpose, and in the 
year 1G80 he reached the point where Peoria, Illinois, is 
now situated. Here lie built a fort, which he named "Creve 
Gceur,'' Avhich in English means "Broken Heart." He 
must have 'been greatly discouraged, indeed, to have given 
so gloomy ,a name to his fort. 

Two years after this La Salle again started with 'a small 
exploring party to find a passage to the Pacific Ocean. This 
time he reached the ^fississippi through the Illinois R'ver, 
and continuing his journey down that stream, on an April 
day in the year 1682 he reached the Gulf of Mexico. He 
was the fii'st European to discover the mouth 'of the Missis- 
sippi, although the river itself had been known for many 
years. 

What must have been the thoughts of this brave young 
adventurer, who, after years of hardships and dangers, at 
last stood upon the shore he had so long been seeking, and 
looked for the first time upon that great, restless body of 
water! Did he believe he had indeed found the passage 
to the old world for which he had so long been searching? 
Or did he realize that he had discovered a new ocean, and 
look across its bright waters and Avonder what was in the 
world beyond its shores? 

Whatever his thoughts may have been, he did not forget 
hh own countrv nor his loyalty to his king. He built a few 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 27 

log huts on the bank of the river, erected a cross, fastened 
the arms of France to a tree, conducted some religious cere- 
mony, and on April 9, 1682, proclaimed that he had taken 
possession of the country in the name of Louis XIY, king of 
France. King Louis was greatly pleased with La Salle's 
conduct, and that of other explorers, and at once iset up a 
claim to the country. 

The territory which the French claimed, and which they 
called I-ouisiana, in honor of their king, included all the 
land lying between New Mexico and Canada, and extended 
in all directions as far as the sources of the rivers which flow 
into the Mississippi. This included both the Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi Valleys. 

Thus, you will see that Indiana was first claimed by the 
French, and that Louis XIV was the first ruler over it. We 
will find that other nations soon claimed and possessed the 
country, and that it passed through many changes before it 
became a State. 

At this time the Sj^aniards claimed the Peninsula of Flor- 
ida and all that country lying east and north of Xew Mex- 
ico, as far as the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. This they 
claimed by right of the discoveries made by Ponce de Leon 
[Pon-tha da La-on] and Hernando de Soto, between the 
years 1538 and 1552. France, however, paid no attention 
to the claims of Spain, and proceeded to erect a line of forts 
and trading-posts and to establish colonies from the Gulf of 
3,fexico to Lake Michigan. 

It would be interesting to follow La Salle in all his travels 
through this wild, unbroken wilderness, for he spent twenty 
years of his life in exploring the country, trading with the 
Indians, building forts and trading-posts, and encouraging 



28 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the establishment of settlements; and by his knowledge of 
the country^ its forests and prairies, its lakes and rivers, and 
by the maps he made of the country he explored, he was 
able to be of great service to those who came after him. He 
suffered many iiardships, privations and dangers, buit 
through all Avas brave and manly, and it interests us to re- 
member that he traced the eaitire southern boundary of In- 
diana, explored tlie northwestern corner of the State, and 
made frequent visits to tlie Indians in Indiana, and at 'one 
time persuaded them to join a colony he had established on 
the Illinois I\iver, which he called Post St. Louis, and which 
was situated about six miles below the town of Ottawa, Illi- 
nois. La Salle was treacherously murdered by two of his 
followers in 1687, but his settlement on the Illinois long 
survived him. 

There were other French explorers who also deserve men- 
tion. Among them are .^L Joliet [Zho-le-a], an agent of 
the French colonial government, and James Marquette 
[Mar-ket], a missionary. These men explored the country 
through MichigaJi and Wisconsin as far west as the Missis- 
sippi Eiver, and rendered valuable service by their discov- 
eries. 

After these early visits of La Salle, w^e have no knowledge 
of Indiana having been explored for several years, yet 
doubtless the traders continued to travel through the (coun- 
try, for it is not probable that they would abandon a terri- 
tory so ricli in valuable furs. 



ffe^" 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 29 



C'HAPTEK III. 

French Forts in Indiana — The Territory passes into the hands of 

the British. 

When the French people heard the wonderful stories told 
about fthe country which their king claimed in America; 
that it was rich in valuable furs, and that gold, silver and 
precious stones v^-ere to be found there in great quantities, 
many of them were eager to leaA^e their homes in France to 
try their fortunes in the new world. 

So, ships loaded with emigrants were sent across the 
ocean, and soon a number of colonies, or isettlements, were 
established in Louisiana, as the country was still called. The 
most important of these was Xew Orleans, above tlie mouth 
of the Mississippi Kiver. 

The king caused forts to be built for the protection of 
these settlements and sent officers to take charge of them, to 
keep peace with the Indians and to enforce the laws, wjjich 
were made in Paris, for the government of the colonists. 
The principal French settlements in America at this time 
were in Canada, and the seat of the general government was 
at Qu<ebec, on the St. Lawrence River. 

It was the purpose of the French king, after he had taken 
possession of the country, to establish a line of forts and set- 
tlements from Canada to Xew Orleans, along the route of 
the llaumee and AVabash Rivers, for the purpose of pro- 
tecting the fur trade and keeping out other nations. 

If you will again look on the map of the United States 
you will see that boats can sail from Quebec up the St. Law- 



^•■^i^aisK 



30 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

rence Eiver, across Lake Ontario, througli the ^Niagara 
Iviver to Lake Erie, across Lake ICrie to the mouth of the 
Maiiinee, up that stream to the AVahash, clown the Wabash 
to the Ohio Eiver, thence to the Mississippi River and the 
Gulf of Mexico. It is a wonderful thoroughfare, and was 
of untold value to the traders and settlers before the time of 
railroads. 

It is true there were many obstacles in the way of the 
passage of boats. There were rocks and rapids, great water- 
falls and whirlpools, and there was the 'portage, or land 
wdiich separates the Maumee and the Wabash Ivivers; but 
these difficulties were overcome, and the Indians and traders 
used these waterways for transporting 'their goods and furs 
for many years. This line of travel also gave, the French 
two w^avs of communicating with the mother country, one 
by way of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean, 
the other by way of the Mississippi Itiver and the Guli of 
Mexico. 

One of the first in the chain of forts which the Lrench 
king proposed to establish was erected on the Detroit Kiver, 
near the city of Detroit, Alichigan, in the year ITOI. Dur- 
ing the next few years a number of other forts were erected, 
three of them within the limits of Indiana. One of these 
was built at the headwaters of the Maumee Hiver, where the 
city of Fort Wayne now stands, and was called Fort Ali- 
amis; one on the banks of the Wabash Kiver, four miles 
southwest of the city of La Fayette; this was called Fort 
Ouiatanon [We-aw-ta-non] ; and another, erected on the 
Wabash where the city of Yincennes now stands. This fort 
was called by different names by the people who afterward 
possessed it, but the name given it by the French was/^Poste 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 31 

du Aubache." It finally came to be known by the name of 
Post Vinccnnes, in honor of its first commander, Frances 
Morcran de Vincennes. 

The exact time when these posts, or forts, were erected is 
not certainly known, but they were probably built not far 
from the same -time. The most reliable date fixed for the 
establishment of Tort Ouiatanon is 1720; that of Post \in- 
cennes, 1727, wliile Fort Miamis, which is probably the old- 
est fort in Indiana, was erected between the years 1713 and 
1718. 

Tort Ouiatanon was a trading-post of much importance. 
It stood about seventy yards from the bank of the river, and 
consisted of perhaps a doze^n cabins, surrounded by a stock- 
ade, built of large posts, pointed at the top, planted close 
together in a line, for a ba.rrier. On account of the rapids 
just below the city of La Tayette, the large boats could go 
no furthea* up the stream, and all merchandise had to be 
brought in small boats above the rapids to Tort Ouiatanon, 
where they were placed in large canoes, or in pirogues — 
which were canoes made from the trunks of trees — and 
taken down tiie river. 

Fort Yincennes was also a post of importance, and many 
important events in the early history of Indiana took place 
there. It is probable that a temporary trading-post was es- 
tablished at this point before the fort was erected, perhaps 
as early as 1710 or 1711, and in 172G the missionary Murin 
was in charc^e of a Trench Catholic mission here. 

Tort Miamis occupied a very important position, and not 
only commanded the entrauce to the Maumee River^ but 
was situated near tlie cajntal of the Miami Confederacy of 
Indiana^ which was called Ke-ki-onga. Here their great 



32 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

councils were held, their feasts and important ceremonies 
celebrated, and here their illustrious dead were buried. 
Here, also, in the early days, came the priests to tell these 
simple children of the forest of the sweet Child Christ and 
the story of the Cross. It is said that La Salle at one time 
visited Ke-ki-onga. It is certainly known that this was on 
the ancient Indian route between Lake Erie and the Ohio 
River, and that the Indians made it known to the white 
traders. 

Althouo'h the entire country from Canada to the Gulf of 
llexico was claimed and possessed by the French, with the 
capital at Paris, the territory was divided into two prov- 
inces — that of Canada and Louisiana. The dividing line 
on the \Yabash River was at the point where the city of 
Terre Haute stands, which the English afterward called the 
^'Highlands of the AVabash." B}^ this division. Post Ouia- 
tanon belonged to the province of Canada and *vas under 
military control of Detroit, while Post Yinceoines belonged 
to Louisiana, with the capital at Xew Orleans. 

In the year 1T21 Louisiana was divided into nine dis- 
tricts, which were named New Orleans, Biboxi, Mobile, 
Xatchez, Alabama, Yazoo, Arkansas, Natchitoclie [Xak-e- 
tosh] and Illinois. Indiana belonged to the district of .Illi- 
nois. The capital, or seat of the military government, for 
the district of Illinois was at Fort Chartres, on the Missis- 
sippi RiA^er. This was the first capital of Indiana, although 
it was many years before the name ^'Indiana" was given to 
our State. So, with the French capital at Paris, the capital 
of Louisiana at Xew Orleans, and the capital of the district 
of Illinois at Fort Chartres, the affairs of government in In- 
diana were very much mixed, and must have puzzled the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 33 

inliabitants, if tliey took the trouble to think about them 
at all. 

King Louis XIV died in 1715, and Louis XY became 
king of France and ruler over the French territory in i\mer- 
ica. But this king and his nobles cared more for making 
fortunes for themselves out of the colonies they planted in 
Louisiana tlian they did for the welfare of the colonists, and 
instead of making wise laws for their protection and govern- 
ment, they taxed them all they could pay, and placed the 
commerce of the country in the hands of a company that 
made them buy everything they used from the company^s 
fetores at very high prices, and paid them very low prices for 
their produce. This was very discouraging to the poor peo- 
ple who had come to tliis new country to make homes and 
eai n a living for themselves and families. 

The French king did another foolish thing; he gave large 
tracts of land to favored persons, and bestowed upon them 
such titles as the ^'counts'' and "marquisses of the Missis- 
sippi." It seems absurd that many persons should seek these 
titles, and think themselves very aristocratic, indeed, be- 
cause of them. Many of these titled land-holders never saw 
their possessions in America, but sent out ships filled with 
ofiicers, who were to look after their estates and send the 
profits to the owners in France. But the ofiicers they sent 
were not the kind of men needed in a new country. They 
refused to till the ground, or raise produce even for their 
own use, and spent the time searching for gold, silver and 
precious stones. They came to America to make their for- 
tunes, and failing to do this, they became vagabonds and 
lived off the labor of those who were willing to work. As 
a consequence, the French settlements in America did tnot 
become very strong. 



34 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

But what liad England been doing all this time? I as- 
sim'O you she had by no means been idle, but had planted 
colonies up and down the coast of the Atlantic Oc.-ean, 
reaching westward as far as the Alleghany Mountains, and 
claimed the right to extend her territory as far west as she 
chose, and had already attempted to establish a settlement 
on the western side of the Allegbanies. This greatly dis- 
pleased the French, who claimed the entire Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi Valleys, and they determined to resist all attempts 
of the English to enter their country. The British, how- 
ever, gained a foothold in this territory, in 1748, by mahing 
friends with the Miami Indians on the Wabash River, and 
securing their consent to enter the territory, and to trade 
and form settlements. As a result, Indiana was claimed by 
both France and England. 

About this time the British formed a company, \\liich 
they called the ''Ohio Company,'' for the purpose of plant- 
ing English settlements west of the Alleghany Mountains, 
^nd to aid them in this, George II, king of England, granted 
or deeded the company a half million acres of land, lying on 
or near the Ohio Hiver, and gave tliern the exclusive privi- 
lege of trading with the Indians. Soon after this, a num- 
ber of English traders crossed the mountains and began to 
trade with some Indian tribes. This made the French very 
angry. They claimed that the English had no right to trade 
on their land, and the Governor General of Canada, who 
was the highest French officer in America, sent a company 
o[ men, under Captain Louis Celeron, to explore the country 
between Detroit and the Allci'hanv Moimtains. 

~ CI 

This they did, and they took possession of the country in 
the name of Louis XV, king of France, just as La Salle had 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 35 

done wlien lie discovered the mouth of the Mississippi 
River, and they buried inscribed plates of lead at the mouth 
of the principal rivers, along the streams and in other im- 
portant places, to show that they possessed the country. 

N^ot long afterward, the ( Governor of Pennsylvania re- 
ceived warning from Captain Celeron that the English were 
exposing themselves to danger by trespassing upon territory 
belonging to the French. He also received notice that per- 
sons found guilty of further trespass upon "French soil" 
would be liable to arrest. The English paid no attention to 
these threats, however, and continued to trade with the In- 
dians as before. 

At this time the population of the English in America 
was much greater than that of the French, there being one 
million fifty-one thousand English, and only fifty-two thou- 
sand French. One reason for this was that many of the 
French Avho came to America were adventurers, who spent 
the time searching for gold, and did not attempt to make 
homes for themselves and their families. They lived wan- 
dering, restless lives, and formed but few ]:>ermanent settle- 
ments. The English pursued a different course. They en- 
couraged emigrants to bring their families to America, and 
to establish large colonies, build comfortable houses, till the 
land and engage in other trades and industries. The result 
was that the English increased in strength and numbers, 
while the French force weakemed. Notwithstanding this 
great inequality in strength and numbers, the French were 
ready to resist the English in their attempt to settle or trade 
on what they considered French territory. 

AYhile the French and English were ([uarreling about the 
land and commerce of the territory, and each was trying to 



36 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

get possession of as much land and trade as possible, three 
small colonies of French people gathered about the for ts in 
Indiana. Frances Morgan de Vincennes, ^\'ho had been ap- 
pointed commander of Post Yincennes, with authority to 
rule over the colony, was killed in an expedition against the 
Natchez Indians, in IToG. lie was a good man and had 
wisely governed the little colony, lie died exhorting his 
men to be worthy of their religion and of their country. 

After his death, Louis St. Ange was placed in command 
at Post Yincennes. lie, too, was a wise and good man, and 
continued to command the fort as long as itlie French held 
possession of the country. St. Ange led a quiet, peaceful 
life at tlie little fort on the banks of the AY abash, with the 
Indians and a few French families for his neighbors. He 
was a wise and discreet officer and ruler, and was mivjh 
loved by the people. He was kind and generous and man- 
aged the afTairs of the little colony in such a way as to gain 
the approval of his superior officers, as well as the love of 
those over whom he ruled. 

And so the years passed peacefully away. The French 
settlers lived careless, happy lives, farming a little, fishing, 
hunting and trading, living at peace with the Indians and 
adopting many of their customs. They had but few wants, 
and they were easily satisfied. Tliey were free from raxes 
and cared but little about the things which were taking 
place in the world outside of their own little community, 
shut in by the gloomy forests, deep streams and spreading 
prairies. But a change was coming to disturb tlieii* quiet 
lives, and fears w^ere soon to take the place of all this peace- 
ful security. 

The quarrel between the French and the English contin- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF iNt)iANA. 37 

tied to grow. The English insisted npon forming settle- 
nients and hunting and trading where they chose. The 
Frencli were more and more determined that they shouhl 
not trespass upon land which they claimed as theirs, and 
they built forts in many places northwest of the Ohio Hiver 
to keep the English out oi the country, and garrisoned them 
with French soldiers, and by the aid of the Indians, Avho 
were friendly to them, they captured several English traders 
on the l^orders of the Ohio, and took from them their furs 
and other goods, and captured a block-house and trading- 
post, which an 'agent of the Ohio Company had built at 
Loggstown, on the Ohio River. This made the Miami In- 
dians, who were friendly to the English, very angry, and 
they captured three French traders and sent them prison- 
ers to tlie English, in Pennsylvania. 

The British adopted the plan proposed by Dr. Benjamin 
Franklin, to. capture all the forts which the French had 
erected, and either destroy them or garrison them with Brit- 
ish soldiers. So. in the month of Maj^, 1754, Cxovernor Din- 
widdie, of Virginia, instructed Major George "Washington, 
Avitli a company of about two hundred men, to march 
against a fort which the French were building at the place 
where the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers unite to 
form the Ohio, where now the city of Pittsburg stands. 

No doubt these brave Virginia sokliers and their gallant 
leader felt very proud and hopeful as they marched away in 
their bright uniforms, to the sound of the fife and drum, with 
the colors of King George waving in the breeze. As they 
neared the fort, however, a company of French soldiers 
came to meet them and ordered ^.lajor Washington to v/ith- 
draw his forces from French territory. He refused to do 



3$ YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIAI^A. 

this, and the Virginians were attacked by the French and 
compelled to retreat, mnch to their chagrin. 

When the English authorities heard of the defeat of 
Washington and the Virginia trocps, and that the French 
still held possession of Fort T)u Quesne [Du Ken], as it was 
called, they at once determined to engage in war against the 
I rench, and directed the English colonists to take up arms 
against them. 

Thus l)egan the war between France and England con- 
cerning their possessions in America, which is known as the 
^^French and Indian war," and which lasted almost eight 
years, and was finally ended by a treaty made at Paris bo- 
tween the two nations, February 10, 1763. Ly this treaty 
France ceded to Great Britain not only Canada and ^ova 
Scotia, but all the territory claimed bv the French Ivins; 
east of the Mississippi River, except the town of ^ew^ Or- 
leans and the island on which it stands. The navigation of 
the Mississippi Iviver was opened free, from its source to the 
Gulf of Mexico. Thus the territory of Indiana passed from 
the hands of the French to that of the British; but the In- 
dians, who were hostile to the English, did not allow them 
to take possession of the country for more than a year. At 
this time there ^ve.Ye only about one hundred French fam- 
ilies in what is now Indiana. About eighty of these lived at 
Vincennes. Fourteen families were at Fort Ouitanon, and 
nine or ten at Fort Wayne. These three small colonies were 
the only white settlements Avithin the present State of In- 
diana. 

The Indians took part in all the conflicts between the 
French and English in their efforts to hold possession of the 
country. They were divided in their opinions and likings, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 39 

pome tribes being the allies of the French, while others were 
friendly toward the English, and many Indians, as wpJI as 
white men, lost tlieir lives before peace was declared. 

Before the treaty between France and Great Britain, 
France had secretly ceded to Spain all that part of Louisiana 
west of the Mississippi, but it did not pass into her possession 
until the year 1769. 



CIIxVPTER ly. 

Pontiac'3 War — Indians Attack the Forts and Control the Country. 

Pontiac was a powerful Ottawa chief. Ilis influence was 
felt by all the otlier Indian tribes, who were always ready 
to listen to his counsel and advice. lie was friendly toward 
the French people, but hated the Englisli, whom he sus- 
pected of the intention to take from the Indians their game 
and hunting-ground. 

While the French possessed the country, they had been 
kind to the Indians, and to gain their friendship and secure 
their assistance in their attempt to drive the British out of 
the territory they claimed, had given them presents of lood 
and clothing, and armed them with rifles with which to Sglit 
the English. They treated them with courtesy and listened 
politely to all they had to say on important subjects. The 
Indians repaid their kindness with their friendship and pro- 
tection. They were angry at the approach of the English, 
"wliom they considered not only their enemies, but also the 
enemies of their friends, the French. In sorrow and biUer- 
ness they saw the "cross of St. George" take the place of the 
"fleur de lis'' of France. 



40 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTOHY OF INDIANA. 

The Britisli, feeling coniident tliat they could soon con- 
quer the savages, took no pains to gain their good will, hut 
treated them with indifference and contempt. They gave 
them no presents as the French had done, 'and sometimes 
made them pay for things which the authorities had BGUt as 
gifts; they disregarded their feelings and wishes in every 
v/ay, and the Indians hecarae very hitter against them. This 
feeling was encouraged hy the French traders, wdio still 
hoped tliat their king wonld regain the territory he had lost. 

Thus encouraged, the Indians formed the plan to prevent 
the British from taking possession of the country. In this 
they were led hy Pontiac. In the fall of 17G0, after the 
French had surrendered Canada, hut hefore the entire coun- 
try was ceded to the British, Major Hohert Bogers, with a 
body of Fnglish troops, was sent from Montreal to take pos- 
ression of Detroit, which the French had agreed to surren- 
der. While on the way, they were met hy a messenger of 
Pontiac, who requested Major Bogers to wait until the ar- 
rival of the chief. Pontiac came, and there under the 
spreading branches of the grand old forest trees, the British 
officers and soldiers, dressed in their showy luiiforms of scar- 
let and gold, armed with their swords and guns, received the 
S'avage chief, who, scantily 'attired in his robes of fur, orna- 
mented with beads and feathers, with bare head and tat- 
tooed limbs, proudly stood before the enemies of his people 
and demanded to know how they dared to invade his coun- 
try without his permission. 

IFajor Bogers explained to the indignant chief that he 
had no designs against the Indians, but that he came to re- 
move the French who had prevented the Indians from being 
fnends with the English. He then offered the chief -soveral 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 41 

belts of wampum, wliicli were accepted. Altlioiigli not sat- 
isfied that the intentions of the English were friendly, Pon- 
tiac gave Major Kogers a small string of wampum, hut 
threateningly said: ^'I shall stand till morning in the path 
you are walking,'^ which the soldiers understood to mean 
that they must go no further without his permission. 

The next morning Pontiac returned and held a council 
with the British ofPicer, and not only promised that he 
should pass unmolested through the country, hut himself ac- 
companied Major Eogers to Detroit. If Pontiac was sincere 
in his promises of friendship, he either forgot thCiU or 
changed his mind, for he soon began to plan the destruction 
of the English. It is believed that the Erench influenced 
and encouraged the Indians in this by telling them that the 
English intended to take their land and drive them from the 
country, or totally destroy them. 

So, in the spring of 17G3, began the war known as ^'Pon- 
tiac's war," which ended disastrously to the Indians the fol- 
lov/ing year. Pontiac's plan was to combine tlie forces of 
all the Indian tribes and attack all the British forts and trad- 
ing-posts in the country northwest of the Alleghany Moun- 
tains at the same time, capture them, kill the oificers anci sol- 
diers, or take them prisoners, and then attack iho settle- 
ments. 

Pontiac went from one tribe to another, and held courcils 
with the chiefs and warriors, and made long speeches to 
them, telling them of his plans to destroy their enemies, and 
persuading many of them to join him; and those he could not 
persuade lie induced to join him by threatening to dos'roy 
them if they did not; and he caused great fires to be kindled 
at night, which sent weird lights through the dark forests, 



42 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and cast strange, fitful sliadows under the trees; and here, 
in the excitement which Pontiac's speeches caused, the In- 
dians held their horrihle war-dances for weeks at a time, and 
dug up the hatchet which they had huried when at peace 
with nations, and vowed they would not bury it again antil 
the hated English were destroyed or driven from the coun- 
try; and the squaws, catching the spirit of war, set to worh 
sharpening knives, molding bullets and mixing war paints 
for the warriors to use in battle. Even the children cau2:ht 
the opirit of tlie times, and practiced with bows and arrows, 
and played at killing, scalping and burning English prison- 
ers; and the young men ate raw flesh and drank hot llouj 
to make them brave and courageous. A hundred wild and 
restless tribes united in the plans of one mighty chief, whose 
object was to kill, plunder and exterminate the people he 
hated. 

After stirring up the Indians to the highest excitement, 
Pontiac went to the French soldiers at the forts and settle- 
ments and demanded that they help him to destroy the Eng- 
lish. From them he learned that the Frencli had ceded all 
their territory east of the Mississippi liiver to Great Britain, 
and that they were waiting for the British soldiers to come 
and take possession of the forts and of the country. 

This made Pontiac and liis friends very angry, and they 
determined to break away entirely from the Europeans and 
drive them from the country. He gathered his warriors to- 
gether and they attacked a nund:)er of forts and trading- 
posts, and ];illed those in charge, or took them prisoners, 
just as they had planned to do. The time fixed for tlie gen- 
eral attack was June 1, ITGo, and the plan was not to openly 
attack the forts, but to capture them by strategy, whicli 



YOtlNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 43 

suited their savage natures mncli better tlian did open war- 
fare. Pontiac liad assigned tlie task of capturing each fort 
to certain tril)es; every tribe knew its task and prepared to 
fulfill it. Pontiac himself was to attack Detroit, which was 
a post of great importance, then in command of Major 
Gladwin. 

Early in May, Pontiac, at the head of three hundred war- 
riors, accompanied by their women and children, arrived at 
Detroit and camped near the fort. This did not excite the 
suspicion of the British, who had no hint of the dark plans 
of the savages. The fort was surrounded by three rovs of 
pickets, or sharpened stakes driven close together in the 
ground, with strong block-houses built at each corner and at 
the gates. This enclosure contained about one acre and a 
half of ground. The fort was garrisoned by one hundred 
and thirty officers and men. AYhen the time for attacking 
the fort arrived, Pontiac, in order to gain admittance, pro- 
posed to hold a council with Major Gladwin, telling him 
that the Indians wished to take their new father, the king of 
England, by the liand. Major Gladwin consented to this, 
and it was asfreed that the council should be held Avithia tlie 
fort the following day. 

Pontiac's plan was to enter the fort with a number of his 
warriors, armed with rifles that had been shortened so that 
they might conceal them under their blankets; at the proper 
time Pontiac was to give the signal and the Indians were to 
seize the fort and kill all the officers. They were then to 
open tlie gates and admit the other Indians, who were tc be 
given the pleasure of 'assisting in the slaughter of the sol- 
diers and the destruction of the fort. This well formed plan 
came very near being successful, but we will see that the 
great chief was defeated in his wicked designs. 



44 YOUNG PEOPLE'S SlSfORY OF IIJdIANA. 

It is said that an Indian woman to wliom Major Glad- 
win had been hind betrayed the secret to him for the pur- 
pose of saving his life. Althongh Major Gladwin did not 
qniie believe her story, he took care to put everything in 
readiness in case there should be an attack. The fort was 
strongly guiarded during the niglit, lest the savages should 
conclude to make the attack earlier than the time appointed 
for the council. 

Although the lonely sentinels at the fort watched and lis- 
tened all through the long, weary hours of the night, tliey 
heard nothing but the sound of wild music and dancing over 
in the Indian camp, Avhere the savages were preparing for 
the bloody deeds of the morrow. The lights of their camp- 
fires glowed fitfully through the trees, and made the dark- 
ness more intense by the contrast. The stars looked pity- 
ingly down upon this wild scene, and by and by the moon 
arose in the east and sent long rays of silver light through 
the dark branches of the forest trees. All night long, the 
faichful sentinels kept watch over the little garrison; all 
night long, the shouts and songs and dancing continued and 
only ceased when the dawn appeared, and the warriors pre- 
pared for the savage delights v/hich they believed vv'ere 
awaiting them. 

But Major Gladwin and his soldiers were not to be caught 
napping. The entire garrison was placed under arms, the 
guards strengthe'ned, and the officers armed with swords and 
pistols. At the ajipointed hour, Pontiac and his warriors 
presented themselves at the entrance of the fort, and were 
admitted and taken to the council room. The chief, who 
savv' at once that the soldiers were all armed, inquired of 
^lajor Gladwin the reason. The officer replied that it was 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 45 

necessary to keep his young men busy, lest they become in- 
dolent. 

Tlie council began; Pontiac addressed Major Gladwin in 
a bold, defiant manner. When lie approached the nioment 
that the signal for tJie attack was to be given, his speech and 
gestures became more and more threatening, and when he 
^\■as on the point of making the signal, the drums of the 
British garrison beat '^to arms," the guards leveled their 
guns, and the officers drew their swords. This was all so 
unexj)ected, and so surprised Pontiac, that he failed to give 
the signal for the attack. Major Gladwin then approached 
the chief; drew aside his blanket and disclosed the short- 
ened rifle. Ileproaching him for his treachery, he ordered 
him from the fort. 

As soon as the Indians were outside of the fort, they gave 
a savage yell and fired upon it. Determined to gratify their 
thirst for ])lood, thev went to the house of an old Euirlish 
woman and murdered her and her two sons. They then 
went to an island near by, and muirdered the family of a 
discharged British officer. For se^^ral days they attempted 
to capture the fort; failing in this, 'they tried to destroy it by 
fire, and for months besieged it, killing and taking prisoners 
many who were sent to the relief of the garrison. 

The attacks on some of the other forts were more success- 
ful. Pontiac had assigned to the Sacs and Chippewa In- 
dians the task of capturing Fort Mich-i-li-mack-i-nac, which 
stood between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. On June 
the 4th, which Avas King George's birthday, the Indians 
who were in camp near the fort amused themselves by play- 
ing a game of bat and ball, which they called '^bag-gat-i-wa." 
The game became interesting, and a number of the British 



46 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

soldicTs went out to watch it. In the excitement of the 
game, the hall was sometimes thrown over the stockade and 
fell inside the enclosure. At such times, the Indians were 
allowed to run after it; this occurred several times. Again 
the ball was thrown over the pickets, and this time the In- 
dians rushed in and took possession of the fort. Seventy 
English officers and soldiers were killed and scalped, r.nd 
the remainder of the garrison, about twenty in number, 
were taken prisoners. 

Lieutenant Jenkins was in command of Fort Ouiatanouj 
on the Wal)ash River. One day he was induced to go to one 
of the Indian huts, and while there he was captured and 
bound, as were several of his men. He was compelled to 
order his few remaining soldiers to surrender the fort. 
They were all held prisoners for some time, but were kindly 
treated. The Indians about Ouiatanon were friendly to 
the soldiers, but Pontiac had ordered them to capture the 
fort, and they dared not refuse. The entire British garri- 
son at Miamis was massacred, and nine of the twelve forts 
situated between Lake Erie and Green Bay, and between 
l\rackinaw and Ouiatanon, were captured v/ithin a few 
weeks. 

Besides capturing the British forts and trading-posts, the 
Indians attacked the frontier settlements, burned the 
houses, and massacred the inhabitants, or took them prison- 
ers, to die a horrible death by torture. For many months 
the forests were red with the flames of burning homes, and 
the air was filled with the shrieks of tortured men, women 
and children. 

For months, Pontiac and his warriors controlled the Ohio 
valley. The British troops were not permitted to reach the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 47 

forts the Freucli king had agreed to surrender, and the 
French officers were obliged to remain at their posts and 
await the time when they could give them into the hands of 
the English. 

Nejlon de Yilliers, who was in command at Fort Char- 
tres, which you will remember was the eeat of the military 
government of the Illinois district, grew weary of this dull 
task and ordered St. Angc, who still commanded Post Vin- 
cennes, to relieA^e him. This St. Ange prepared to do. He 
j)laced the fort in the hands of M. de Roiste de Richardville, 
acting captain of the militia, and Sieur le Camdre, a soldier 
of the troops. His parting advice to them was to inaiiitain 
friendly feelings between the settlers and the Indians, and 
to prevent disorder. He instructed them, when complaijits 
\\eve made, to call the most influential inhabitants together 
and settle the matter by votes. 

After giving his parting blessing, St. Ange made his ^\^ay 
across the prairies of Illinois and took command of J.'ort 
Chartres. What a weary time he must have had^ waiting 
in that gloomy old fortress, which was said to be the most 
convenient and best built fort then in America, imtil the 
enemy of his country should come and possess it. lie had 
dilliculty in keeping the French and Indians quiet, howe\er, 
for the savages insisted that the French should help them in 
their war against the English; but St. Ange, who was a 
brave and noble man, true to his king who had surrendered 
the country to the enemy, saw his duty as a soldier and a 
loyal subject, and determined to perform it faithfully. 

Pontiac, not to be turned from his purpose, went from 
post to post demanding assistance. He continued to wage, 
war against the British, and although he succeeded in ci^p- 



48 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

turing a niimLer of forts and killing a great many people, he 
could not oveTcome the well-trained British troops sent 
against him. At last, seeing no hope of success, with many 
of their warriors slain, tlieir villages destroyed, themselves 
on the point of starvation, a large number of Indian tribes 
sued for peace, which was finally concluded October 25, 
17G4. Pontiac took no part in the treaties of peace be- 
tween the Indians and the English, although he finally 
agreed to Avar no more against the whites, and retired a dis- 
appointed man, to the Illinois country, where he was assas- 
sinated three years later. 

There is something pathetic in the fate of this great war- 
rior, who, seeing the land of his fathers taken from liis 
people, and determined to save it, ii^ed all his powers to 
drive ^way the enemy, and seeing his hopes blasted, his 
enemies A'ictorious, himself forsaken by those he sought to 
serve, turned from the scenes of his early hopes and ambi- 
tions, — from the land and the people he loved, and quietly 
went away, with his sad, disappointing memories^ to a 
strange country,- —away from friends and kindred, to die by 
the assassin's knife. 

But there was one who was always kind to this misguided 
chief. St. Ange, after he surrendered Fort Charties, re- 
retired to the village of St. Louis, which La Salle had estab- 
lished on the Illinois Itiver, where he remained for several 
years. Here, as at Vincennes, he endeared himself to those 
about him, and when the warrior chief Pontiac fell by the 
cowardly hand of the assassin, St. Ange sent across the river 
for his body, and had it buried with honors, near the old 
foit at St. Louis; and here, five years later, St. Ange him- 
self, like Pontiac, was buried in the little church-yard. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA, 49 



CHAPTER V. 
Indiana becomes a part of Canada — The Revolutionary War. 

After tlie French king had given up his claim to tlie coun- 
try east of the Mississippi Iiiver, and lifter the soldiers of 
the English king had overcome the Indian tribee and taken 
possession of all the foirts and the great northwestern terri- 
tory, the British government did little to have it settled. 
Indeed, it tried to prevent the emigrants from going to thig 
part of the ccuntry, and thait, for a very selfish reason. 

The colonists in Xorth America were dependent npon 
England for many things they nsed, especially for manu- 
factured articles and for tea and coffee, and the English 
feared that should they form settlements in portioois of the 
country distance from, the sea coast, they would soon find it 
necessary to manufacture such articles as tthey needed, for 
themselves, and so become independent of tbe mother coun- 
try, cease to pay tribute to the crown, and perhaps set up a 
government of their own. This is exactly what the col- 
onists did, and no amount of tyranny could keep them sub- 
ject to the British government. 

The French settlements in Indiana, at Fort Wa^Tie, Vin- 
cennes an«l Ouiatanon, were not disturbed, but after tbe 
French officers retired, were left pretty much to take care of 
"themselves. In 1772, however, General Thomas Oage, 
commander-in-chief of all the king's forces in America, sent 
a proclamation in the name of George III, king of England, 
commanding all persons who had settled west of the Alle- 
ghany i\rountains, to quit those countries, and join some of 
tlie Enorlish colonies in the East. 



o- 



50 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Wben the French settlers at Yincennes received this or- 
der, thev were very indignant, and refused to leave the 
homes the} had occupied for so many }'ears; ^so they replied 
to General Gage that they held "sacred titles" to their lands, 
which had been given them by Louis XIV, king of France, 
seventy years before. General Gage then demanded that 
they produce proof of their titles ; but this was not an easy 
thing 4:0 do, for many of 'them, not realizing the value of 
their deeds, or titles, had thoughtlessly allowed them to be- 
come lost or destroyed. 

General Gage then went to England to procure authority 
to enforce his commands; but while tlie British king and his 
lords wished the Indian lands cleared of the white settlers, 
they would not compel them to leave their homes, and Gen- 
eral Gage was obliged to return to America without having 
accomplished his object. 

About this time, England was ha^dng trouble with her 
colouies over on the Atlantic coast, which, being oppressed 
by the British government, by unjust laws and ta^ces, and 
by the tyranny of the British officers in America, were try- 
ing to break away from this unjust treatment. So England 
had enough to do without stirring up strife with the French 
settlers. 

For the purpose of gaining the good will of the Indians 
and of the French colonists in Canada, who' complained that 
the best liunting grounds were denied them, ''and to secure 
their assistance in the war with the American colonists, the 
British Parliament, Avhich is to England Avhat Congress is 
to the United States, extended the boundaries of Canada to 
include the territory out of which the States of Indiana, 
Ohio, Illinois and Michigan were formed; and to further 



YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OE INDIANA. 61 

secure their good will, tlie old T'rencli laws and customs 
were restored, and the inhabitants were allowed the privi- 
leges of the Catholic religion, which, by the way, was very 
different from that of the Englisli people. By this act 'of 
the Lritish Parliament, Indiana became a part of Canada. 

AVliile this greatly pleased the T'rench in Canada, it was 
very displeasing to the English colonists, who looked upon 
it as an act to gain the assistance of the French against them, 
and they were very free to express their displeasure. In 
Massachusetts, the colonists held a meeting and strongly 
condemned the action of tJie British, and recommended that 
the frontier towns be provided with officers and military 
supplies, in the fear that tlie new privileges given tliem 
might induce the French and Indians to make war upon the 
frontier settlements. 

This fear was not without cause, for as a result of this act 
"of the English Parliament, tlie French colonists in America 
were strong supporters of Great Britain during the early 
pi^rt of the Pevolutionary war, and they encouraged the In- 
dians to attack the American settlements in their cruel and 
baibarous manner. 

The colonists then made war upon the Indians, and both 
the Americans and the savages were mercilessly murdered; 
nor did the women and children escape, for it is a cruel 
law of war that the innocent and Iie]j)less must also suffer, 
and many hundreds fell victims to this savage border-war- 
fare. 

The Indian method of fighting was very unlike that 'of 
the w^hite people. They would seldom come in force upon 
any place they wished to attack, but would scatter about 
singly, or In small numbers, and hide in fhe bushes, or 



62 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

weeds, or behind trees, or stumps of trees, or along patlis or 
fields where the people must go; or they would watch the 
springs where they must go for water, and shoot them from 
some place of concealment, and if they were not afraid to 
stay, they would take the scalps of their victims, or if they 
were only wounded, would l^ear them away as prisoners, 
and cruelly torture them, sometimes hurn them alive, or cut 
them to pieces, and do many other horrible things before 
they finally hilled them. Often they would bind their vic- 
tims to a stake and pile a great quantity of wood and brush 
about them, and set it on fire: and then while the poor tor- 
tured creatures shrieked in aeonv, the Indians w^ould dance 
and shout about them, and enjoy it all very much indeed. 
TJjey would destroy their enemies' fields of corn and other 
grain, and leave them to suffer and starve. 

Cruel as these things were, the Indians believed that they 
had cause for it all. They saw the wliite people take from 
them their land and game and had no power to prevent it. 
They were often unjustly treated an<l inhumanly m.urdered 
by the whites. They saw their people driven fartlier and 
farther away, their families and villages destroyed, and were 
pOAverless to protect them. What wonder that a spirit of 
revenge should fill the breasts of these wild children of na- 
ture, who were no match for their crafty, and sometimes 
unscrupulous enemies, who were often almost as cruel as the 
savages themselves, and murdered tliem without mercy. 

It often happened that little children who were taken 
prisoners, were adopted by the Indians and brought up like 
their own children, to live the wild life of the savages. A 
story is told of a little girl who was stolen by ihe Indians 
and lived with them for many years. After a time, there 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 53 

was a war with the Indians and many white prisoners were 
taken from them by a British general ; among them was this 
chikl, now grown quite large. Her grandmother, hearing 
of this, went to the general's camp, hoping to find the long- 
losL granddanghter. She eagerly sought among the prison- 
ers and at last was sure she had found her, but the girl had 
f(^rgotteu her own language, and refused to say a Avord, or 
make a sign. The old lady w^as greatly griev^ed, and bit- 
terly complained that the child she ^had so often rocked in 
her arms and sung to sleep, should have forgotten her. 
*^Sing,'^ said the general, "sing the song you used to sing 
her." In a trembling voice the old woman began to sing. 
At the first tones the wild girl started, — listened awhile, and 
then burst into tears. Although her own language Avas for- 
gotten, the old cradle song was remembered; it touched a 
tender cord in her heart and awakened long forgotten 
mejnories. 

After the failure of General Gage to force the French 
settlers to leave their homes and go to tlie settlements east 
of the Alleghany Mountains, Post Yincennes was left un- 
disturbed until 1777. Then Lieutenant-Governor Abbott, 
with an escort of Canadian soldiers, arrived from Detroit 
and took command of the fort. lie won the aifections of 
the people by his kindness to the poor and by looking after 
tJic interests and welfare of the inhabitants, and it was with 
deep regret that they saw him depart a few months later. 

The war between Great Britain and the American col- 
onies, whicli Avas called the Bevolutionary Avar, ended in 
the recognition of the indej^endence of the colonies by Great 
Britain, and the establishment of an independent govem- 
jneat. This Avag the beginning of the United States gov- 



54 YOUxNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

omment, which, after having passed through many changes, 
is the same government under which we live. 

Alter the close of the Itevolutionary war, Congrc&s, with 
hut little money, and the country greatly in debt, tried to 
protect the settlements on the 1 -orders of the Ohio, from the 
attacks of the savac'es. Forts and blockdiouises were built, 
and soldiers placed in charge of them, but they were unable 
to prevent many cruel murders from being committed by 
the Indians, who were encouraged in their merciless deeds 
by the British officers, who had been compelled to leave the 
country east of the Alleghany ^dountains in the hands of the 
Aiaericans, but still held possession of Detroit and Canada. 



CHAPTER VI. 
George Rogers Clark — His Conquest of the Northwestern Territory. 

i^ow having reached the period wlien the American col- 
onies had broken away from the parent country, and set up 
a new government, and given themselves a new name, let us 
take a hasty glance backward over the history of Indiana. 

Probably a few white traders had visted the country be- 
fore the year 1082, ait which time La Salle explored the 
country, discovered the mouth of the Mississippi River and 
set up the standard of Fraucc, clainnng all the territory 
drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries. 

Three French settlements had l)een formed Avithin the 
State, two on the Wabash lliver and one at the present site 
of Fort Wayne. '^I'hen came the war between France and 
Great Britain, at the close of which all the territory east of 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 55 

the Mississippi liiver, with the exception of x^ew Orleans, 
was ceded to Great Britain, and Indiana passed from the 
possesisions of the French to that of the English. Thus we 
have seen it mled by the king of Prance and the king |of 
England. While it yet remained a part of Louisiana, it 
was di\'ided into the district of Illinois, and was afterward 
attached to the province of Canada. The war of the Revo- 
lution began. The colonists declared themselves free from 
CJreait Britain, and were forming a government for them- 
selvcB. In order to gain th.e assistance of the Erench in 
Canada, in the war Avith her colonies, England extended tke 
boundaries of Canada to include Indiana and other terri- 
tory, and re-efital)lislied the Erencli laws and customs, and 
restored to the people the privilege of the Catholic religion. 
All this time the Indians held possession of the country, 
roamed through its forests and bunted along its streams. 
Such was the condition of Indiana when the American col- 
onists declared themselves ivee from the English govern- 
m.ent and became an independent people. 

The British, still fearing that Erance would join the 
Americans and help them in this war, proposed to m-ake 
peace with the colonists, and offered them everything they 
had asked for' in the beainninp'; but it was too late. The 
Americans were determined to be free, and so the war went 
.on. The power of the British was finally broken. The 
Eastern States were in the hands of the Americans, al- 
though the territory northwest of the C)hio Iliver was still 
possessed by the British. They held the forts and strong 
points, which were guarded by British soldiei*S', and they 
had no intentiom of surrendering them to the Americans. 
Had no one disputed with them, doubtless the western boun- 



56 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

daiy of ithe United States would liavc been tlie Ohio River 
instead of tlie ^iississippi, and Indiana might to-day have 
been under British rule. 

The officers at the British forts greatly annoyed the 
Americans by furnishing arms and ammunition to 'tlie In- 
dians, and by sending them to attack the settlements in 
Kentucky and on the borders of the Ohio River. And so, 
while still at strife with the mother country, with but little 
money in the treasury, and her frontier settlements in dan- 
ger of being destroyed by the savages, the young gOA^orn- 
ment was in a troubled condition. 

At this time Yirginia claimed the territory west of the 
Alleghany Mountains, and many of the people who had 
settled in Kentucky and along the Ohio River, were from 
that State. The news that the Indians were attacking these 
settlements, destroying the homes, killing men, women and 
children, or bearing them away into captivity to be horribly 
tortured and killed, gTeatly distressed their friends in Yir- 
ginia, who were powerless to give them asistance. 

About this time a young surveyor from Yirginia mad© a 
journey through Kentucky, exploring and surveying the 
land. lie was so pleased with the rich and beautiful coun- 
try that he resoh'ed to make it his home. The name of this 
young adventurer was George Rogers Clark, and to him 
more than tO' any other man, the United States is indebted 
for the accession of the vast territory out of AVhich the 
States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin were 
formed. 

Clark was grieved at the suffering and danger to which 
the settlers on the frontier were ex]WS'cd, and tried to dis- 
cover* some way to relieve them. He was then but twenty- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 57 

five yeiars of age, but lie formed a wise and daring plan that 
would have done credit to a much older head. He came to 
the conclusion that the only way to secure the safety of the 
settlements, w^as to lead an army of men against the British, 
captnre the forts and take possession of tlie country from 
the Ohio River to the ]\Iis,sissippi and to the Xorthern Lakes. 
He was con^dnced that the British encouraged the Indiaus 
to attack the Americans, and thiat they furnished them with 
arjns and ammunition, and rewarded them for their cruelty 
to the defenseless settlers. Tie believed that if the Amer- 
icans could gain possession of tlie country by dri^dng the 
British out, they conld make peace with tlie Indians, or ajt 
least protect their settlements. 

This was a dangerous undertaking, but Clark resolved to 
attempt it. But first, it ^vas necessary ito gecnre the ap- 
proval and assistance of the State of Virginia, for not only 
must he have men and arms, but he would need a great 
many other tilings before he Was ready to enter upon Iso 
hazardous an enterprise. 

Although Kentucky was claimed by Virginia, and was 
subject to the laws of that State, her people were not repre- 
sented in the State Legislature, and had no voice in making 
the laws that governed them; so Clark persuaded the set- 
tlers in I\entncky to hold a meeting for the purpose of form- 
ing some plan by which they could get the support and pro- 
tection of the government of Virginia. At this meeting 
Gabriel Jones and George Bogers Clark were choseai to 
represent the Kentuckians, and to appear before the Vir- 
ginia Legislature and make known the needs and desires of 
the settlers. 

They immediately started ou their long journey to "Wil- 



68 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

liamsburg, wliic]i was tlien the capital of Virginia. The 
country was little more than a wilderness; there w^ere no 
roads, and tliey had to find the Avay as best tliey could 
tiirough the woods and thickets, swimming across istreams, 
sleeping under the open sky at night, with the bright stars 
looking down upon them, or, on rainy nights, finding shel- 
ter beneath the branches of the forest trees. 

With the greatest difficulty, and very tired and worn, 
they at last reached Williamsburg. Imagine their disap- 
pointment when they found that the Legislature had 'ad- 
journed and the mcmbei*s gone to their homes. They 'had 
tra\^eled weary miles and suffered many hardships Avithout 
having accomplished their object. 

However, Clark was not discouraged. He went at -once 
to Governor Patrick Henry, who Avas lying sick at his home, 
and told him of the condition of the settlers in Kentucky, 
and explained his plans for their protection. Governor 
Henry was pleased Avitli 'all he said, and sent him to ^the 
Executive Council of the State. Clark j^resented the letter 
Avhich the Governor liad given him to the Council, and told 
them of the danger and suffering of the settlers, — that they 
Avere at the mercy of the savages, 'and requested that five 
hundred pounds of gunpoAvder be given them, Avith Avhich 
to protect themselves. 

The Council sympathized Avith the settlers, but told Clark 
that they had no authority to funiish the powder at the ex- 
pense of the State, Avliich Avas ]ierhaps true, and refused to 
let him haA^e it uidess he Avould agree to pay for it in case the 
Legislature failed to approve the act. This Clark refused 
to do. He replied that Virginia claimed the territory of 
Kentucky, Avhich was rich and valuable; that the British 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 69 

were in every way encouraging tlie Indians and furnishing 
them with ammunition with which to destroy the settle^ 
ments on the frontier, and that they might at 'any time be 
exterminated for want of the means to defe-nd themselves, 
and tliat, with tlie frontier settlements destroyed, there was 
nothing to prevent the Indians from attacking the settle- 
ments in Virginia, and the British from taking possession of 
tlie country east of the Ohio. 

The Council stiil refused to aid him, and Clark went 
away disappointed, lie determined to make one more ef- 
fort, however, before leaving the town. So he wrote a let- 
ter to the members of the Council, infomung them 'that if 
they still refused to help liim, he would apply elsewhere for 
assistance; at the same time telling them that a ^^country 
that was not wortli defending was not worth claiming," and 
hinting that Kentucky might form herself into a separate 
State. 

Fearing that Clark might procure assistance from lilie 
State of Xorth Carolina, which already claimed a portion of 
Kentucky, the Council sent for Clark and promised him 
that the powder should be sent, and ordered it shipped to 
Pittsburg for the use of the settlers in Kentucky. 

AVhen the Virginia Legislature next met, Clark and 
Jones were present, and although they were not admitted 
as members, through their influence the tearritory now called 
the ''State of Kentucky'' was formed into the ''County of 
Kentucky.'' By this act the people of the new county had 
a claim to the protection of Virginia. AVell pleased with 
the result of their eirorts, Clark and Jones at once started to 
Kentucky to carry the glad licws to the settlers. On the 
way they stopped at Pittsburg to claim the gunpowder, 
wliich had not yet been delivered to the settlements. 



60 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Witli a party of boatmen tliey started down the Ohio 
Iiivei' with their precious freight, but had not gone far until 
they discovered that they were pursued by Indians, and 
fearing that the gunpowder might fall into the hands of the 
savages, they hid it in the Avoods and went on without it. 
They afterward sent for it, and tlie settlers were better able 
to protect themselves against the attacks of the Indians; but 
they were still in danger, and Clark did not abandon his 
plan to capture the British forts, prevent the Indians from 
receiving arms land ammunition, after wliic'h he believed 
they would be compelled to cease their hostilities and peace 
could be secured. So he went to the Governor of Virginia 
and told him his ]dan for capturing the forts, driving the 
British out of the country, and adding the territory north- 
west of the Ohio Bi\'er to tlie State of Virginia. The Gov- 
ernor and his Council approved the plan, and provided 
money with which to meet the expense of the expedition 
which they proposed to send against the British. 

They believed it necessary to keep tlieir real intentions a 
secret, for should it be made public, the British and Indians 
would hear of it, and be prepared to resist the Americans 
and probably defeat them. Besides, if it were known that 
Clark's purpose v/as to invade a wild and unknown country, 
possessed by a powerful enemy and invaded by wild tribes 
of liostile Indians, it would be very difficult, if not impossi- 
ble, to induce men to enlist for so dangerous and uncertain 
an expedition. So Governor Henry wrote two sets of in- 
structions for Colonel Clark; one authorized him to enlist 
seven companies of men, to act under his instructions, for 
the defense of the settlements in Kentucky; the other letter 
contained private instructions to lead his mem against th^ 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 61 

Britisli forts. These were to be kept secret until lie should 
sec fit to make them known. 

Colonel Clark was greatly pleased, and at once began his 
efTorts to secure men, assisted by Captain AYilliam ITerrod, 
and by liis two friends, Captain Bowman and Captain Helm. 
To encourage men to enlist, a reward of three 'hundred acres 
of land was promised each soldier, if the expedition was 
successful; but it was difiicult to persuade men to leave their 
homes and families to defend a few settlements on the fron- 
tier, so Colonel Clark, who desired a force of five hundred 
men, was only able to secure about one hundred and fifty. 
He was disappointed, but not discouraged, and hoping that 
others ^vou]d join him in Xentucky, he concluded to start 
with the force he ^already had. 

J.ate in IMay, 1778, with his little band of soldiers, a few 
adventurers and about twenty families who wished to make 
their homes in Kentucky^ he started down the Ohio River 
and arrived at the I'alls of the Ohio, near the end of the 
same month. Here he selected for a camping ground, a 
long, narrow strip of land in the Ohio Biver, called "Corn 
Island." The island was heavily timbered, with a dense 
undergrowth of cane, and the waters of the Ohio washed it 
on every side. 

Colonel Clark liad grave reasons for selecting this bit 'of 
land, entirely surrounded by water. As yet his secret in- 
structions from Governor Henry had not been made known 
to his soldiers, who believed that they were only going to 
defend the settlements in Kentucky, and he feared that 
they might desert him when he told them they were to at- 
tack the Britisli forts northwest of the Ohio Biver. Here, 
on this island, cut oiT from the main land, he would be able 



62 YOtJNG tfiOtLE'S HISTOHY OP INDIANA. 

to prevent this. So lie built a block-liouse in whicli he 
stored liis provisions and ammunition, and divided tlie land 
among tlie families for gardens. 

Colonel Clark had hoped to receive re-enforcemeaits from 
Iventucky, hut was again disappointed, for only one com- 
pany joined him. He determined to make the best of the 
situation, however, and began at once to train his troops. 
A'Vlien all was ready, he read them his secret orders, and in- 
structed them to be ready to start the following morning 
to invade the northwestern territory. Upon hearing this, 
many of liis men, feeling that they had been deceived, and 
'\viT)ngfully treated, became dissatisfied and would have 
turned *back but for the strong will of their leader. The 
Kentucky company determined to desert, and although the 
island was strongly guarded, the greater number of them 
passed the sentinels and escaped. 

On a bright morning in June, in the year 17Y8, Colonel 
Clark, with his little band of one hundred and fifty-three 
men, started on lan expedition to invade and take possession 
of a country containing over two huyadred thousand square 
miles of land. Taking with them such things as they 
needed, and leaving tlie families and a few men to guard the 
island, they started down the river. The sun was clear and 
bright; the birds sang and twittered among the branches of 
the trees whicli bordered the broad, beautiful river. The*^ 
waters gleamed in the bright spring sunlight; the air was 
sweet with the perfume of flowers. All nature was at peace. 
As they glided down the stream, what thoughts of friends 
in far-away Virginia homes filled the minds of these men 
who were going to meet a treacherous foe in the trackless 
w^ildemess ! Did they wonder if ever again they should re- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 63 

turn to the little island, or be permitted to see their loved 
ones at home ? But their brave leader gave them little time 
for sad thoughts. About nine o'clock, as they plunged 
through the rapids beloAv the island, the sky suddenly be- 
came darkened, and the sun was obscured from view. This 
Btrange occurrence, which was nothing more than an eclipse 
of llio sun, made a deep impression on the minds of the men 
who had no previous Imowledge of it, and who were just 
starting on wliat they knew to be a perilous journey. 

It was the purpose of Colonel Clark to capture Kaskaskia, 
which was the capital of the Illinois country, and w^as situ- 
ated on the Kaskaskia River, about one mile from the Mis- 
sissippi, lie then intended to seize the smaller towns and 
forts around it, and afterward capture Vincennes, and prob- 
ably Detroit. So he rowed down 'the Ohio with his little 
band of soldiers, to the mouth of the Tennessee River, which 
he reached after four days' travel, moving day and night. 
Here they landed on an island to prepare for the journey 
across tlie country. After leaving the island, they moved 
down the Ohio to within fifty or sixty miles of its mouth. 
Here they ran their boats up a little creek and hid them, 
for they could not spare men to guard them. After resting 
a few hours, they started on their journey across the un- 
broken country. 

I It must be remembered that these men had no wagons, or 
horses to carry their baggage and ammunition, but each 
must bear his own burdens across the country for a distance 
of one Jiundred and twenty miles. On some parts of the 
journey game land water were scarce, and the men suffered 
from hunger and thirst. They were in constant danger of 
being seen and attacked by tbe Indians. 



64 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The morning of tlie fourth of July, 1778, they came 
within three miles of Kaskaskia, hut were on the opposite 
side of the river from the town. That night they found 
some boats, crossed the river silently in the dai'k, and 
stealthily marched to the town. Here Colonel Clark di- 
vided his men ; he sent one company to surround the town, 
and with the other hroke into the fort, captured the British 
officer, Mr. liochhlave, sent officers through the town to 
command the dnhahitants to keep within their houses, under 
peralty of death, and before daylight had the town dis- 
aru'cd. 

The people of Kaskaskia, who had been told by the Brit- 
ish that the Americans were worse than the savages, were 
very much alarmed, and begged that their lives might be 
spared, and some of them offered to become slaves to their 
captors, if they and their families were permitted to live. 

Colonel Clark at first treated the people with sternness, 
but allowed no harm to come to them. He established him- 
self in the fort and waited to see what steps the inhabitants 
would take. Soon a committee of the leading men of in- 
fluence in the town came to call upon him. They were 
much surprised at seeing the Ameiican ofhcers, who, having 
traveled for clays through a trackless wilderness, sleeping 
out of doors in all kinds of weather, were worn and weary, 
and their clothing tattered, tarn and dirty. They looked 
very unlike the British officers they were accustomed to see 
attired in their gorgeous uniforms. 

Colonel Clark told the committee that he was sorry they 
had so bad an opinion of the Ameri(!ans and their cause, amd 
explained to them the nature of the dispute between the 
Urited States and Great Britain. He told them that, al- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 65 

thougli lie had captured the town and fort, and held them 
prisoners, no harm should come to them, and if they at- 
taclied themselves to the xlmerican government they should 
receive its protection. They were greatly relieved upon 
hearing this, and told Colonel Clark that they had never 
understood the quarrel between Great Britain and the col- 
onies, and offered to unite with the Americans at once. 
Colonel Clark replied that they would be required to take 
the oath -of allegiance to the State of Virginia, and gave 
them a few davs to consider the matter amon^ themselves. 
At the same time, he gave all, except a few particular per- 
sons, the privilege of leaving the comitry if they wished to 
do so. 

Among the mc^n who met Colonel Clark was one who 
afterward rendered valuable service to the country, and of 
wiiom it has been said that, next to George Rogers Clark 
and Francis Vigo (of whom we shall have more to say), the 
United States is more indebted for the possession of the 
!N^orthwestern Territory, than to any other man. This was 
M. Gibault, a Catholic priest of great influence among the 
French settlers, not only at Kaskaskia and the towns in the 
Illinois country, but also at Vincennes and other towns on 
the Wabash. 

T'atlier Gibault requested that his people be permitted to 
assemble in the church, that tliey might confer together in 
their distressed condition. Colonel Clark consented to this, 
and assured the priest that he had no intention of interfer- 
ing with their religious liberty, and by his Avisdom and tact 
quite won him to the American cause. So the people all 
gathered together in the church, and Father Gibault and 
the other men who had gone with him to see the American 
5 



66 YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

officers, talked to them and explained the things Colonel 
Clark had said to them, and quite removed the fears of the 
common people, who not only took the oath of allegiance to 
the State of Virginia, but many of them offered to join the 
Americans against the Eritish. 



CHAPTER YII. 

Vincennes Surrendered — Eetaken by the British — Captured by 

Colonel Clark. 

After the capture of Kaskaskia, Colonel Clark sent sol- 
diers to 'capture the other towns and forts in the Illinois 
country and to make peace with the Indians. It was still 
his intention to capture Vincennes, or ''Tort Gage," as the 
English called it. AVlien Eather GiLault learned of his pur- 
pose to capture the forts on the AVabash, he offered to go to 
Vincennes and win the inhabitants to the American cause 
without the use of arms. This pleased Colonel Clark very 
much, for he knew the priest had great influence among the 
Erench inhabitants on the Wabash, as well as at Kaskaskia, 
and he readily consented to the plan he proposed. 

Accompanied by his friend. Dr. Jean B. Lafont, who was 
also a man of influence among the Erench settlers, and tak' 
ing with them a few men (among whom Colonel Clark sent 
a spy), Eather Gibault started )on his journey, and in due 
time reached Vincennes. 

After he had spent a few days explaining matters to the 
people, they agreed to the proposal lie made them, land ex- 
cept a few friends of Governor Abbott — the British officer 



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YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 67 

in charge of the fort, who was absent at the time — they 
went in a body to the church and solemnly took the oath of 
allegiance to the State of Virginia. They elected an officer 
to command the foj't, took down the British flag, and soon 
the Stars and Stripes were floating over the fort, to the 
astonishment of the Indians, who had never before seen our 
beautiful banner. This was the first American flag ever 
displayed in Indiana. 

Soon everything was settled, and the inhabitants of \'in- 
cennes began to feel that they were citizens of the United 
Suites. They informed the Indians, who did not quite 
know what to make of all this, that their old father, the 
king of France, was Icome to life, and was mad with theiu 
for fighting for his enemies, the English, and they advised 
them to make peace with the Americans as soon as possible, 
or they miglit expect the "land to be very bloody." 

When the news of Father Gibault's success reached 
Colonel Clark, he sent his friend Captain Helm tO' command 
the fort, and appointed him Indian agent for the Wabash 
country. This was the first American officer placed in com- 
mand in Indiana. He was afterward joined by a few 
American and Creole volunteer troops and friendly In- 
dians. Captain Flelm won the confidence of the French in- 
habitants at Yincennes, and was soon on friendly terms with 
the Indian tribes in the vicinity; but his friendship with the 
savages was disturbed by a British agent named Celeron, 
who was at a small fort in the vicinity of the Wea village, 
near the present city of LaFayelte. Colonel Clark sent a 
company of soldiers from Kaskaskia to capture Celeron. 
Tliey succeeded in taking the fort and in capturing about 
fifty prisoners, but the agent himself escaped. 



68 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

In tlie meantime, Colonel Clark was successful in captur- 
ing the towns and forts in the Illinois country, and in mak- 
ing friends with the Indians, wlio Hocked to him in largo 
numbers, to treat for peace and hear what (he ''Big Knife,'' 
as they called him, had to say. Some of these tribes came 
long distances, traveling as far as five hundred miles. They 
were not sincere in their professions of friendship, however, 
for soon afterward they tried to make Colonel Clark their 
prisoner, and had they succeeded, he would have doubtless 
have been tortured and killed. Many of the friendly In- 
dians offered to join Clark's army, but he would not accept 
their offered assistance. 

While Colonel Clark was at Kaskaskia, making peace 
with the Indians and winning the friendship of the French 
settlei^, Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton, who was in com- 
mand of the British troops at Detroit, hearing of the capture 
of Yincennes and the towns on the AVabash and in the Illi- 
nois country, raised a company of five hundred men, com- 
posed of English, Canadians and Indians, and started for 
the Illinois country. He captured the spies which Colonel 
Clark had sent to watch the British, and on December 15th 
appeared without Avaming before the fort at Vincennes. 

Captain Helm, who commanded the fort, had only one 
man to assist him; but he stood bravely by his guns until 
Governor Hamilton agreed to treat him as a prisoner of war. 
He then surrendered the fort, and Yincennes again fell into 
the hands of tlie British. The Stars and Stripes were taken 
down, the British flag again floated on the breeze, and the 
name of the fort changed to "Sackville." 

Again the frontier settlements were at the mercy of the 
savages; again the g^hrieks of tortured men and women were 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S History or Indiana. 69 

heurd, and the nights made hideous with the fierce veils of 
tlie Indians, and the forests liglitcd with the flames of burn- 
ing homes. A company of forty men was sent to capture 
Colonel Clark, but was unsuccessful. C-olonel Clark soon 
heard of the capture of Yincennes by the British, and that 
Captain Helm was a prisoner at the fort, but could learn 
nothing more until January 29th, when Francis ^ igo ar- 
rived 'at Kaskaskia and gave him information concerning 
aKairs at Yincennes. 

As Francis Yigo afterward became a man of influence in 
Indiana, and did much to wrest the northwestern territory' 
from the hands of the British and attach it to the United 
States, it is well to pause liere and leai^n something of the 
man to wliom we are so greatly indebted. Clark, Yigo, 
Gibault, are names which should stand on the list of Indi- 
ana's honored men. I'rancis Yigo was a Spaniard by birth. 
In his youth he left his home and joined a Spanish regiment, 
Avith which he sailed for Havana and afterward for i^ew 
Orleans. There he left the army and joined a company of 
traders whose headquarters were at St. Louis. In his trav- 
els through the Illinois country, he met Colonel Clark, and 
being in sympathy with the American cause, offered him his 
services. Here was the very man to send to Yincennes to 
learn and report the condition of affairs there, and his serv- 
ices were gladlytaccepted. 

In company with one ser.^ant, Yigo started on his errand, 
but was captured by the Indians, taken to Yincennes and 
delivered into the hands of Governor Hamilton, who isus- 
pected him of being a spy. Having no proof against him, 
however, he oft'ered him his liberty if he would promise to 
do no injury to the British cause during the war with the 



VO YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

Americans. Yigo refused to make sucli promise, and was 
held a prisoner on parol — that is, he was allowed his free- 
do}n, but was requu'ed to report at Fort Sackville every day. 

Father Gibanlt, who was at Yincennes at this time, re- 
solved to secure Vigo's release. He went to Governor Ham- 
ilton, in company with a number of citizens, and notified 
him that unless Yigo was released, no more supplies should 
be furnished him by the inhabitants of Yincennes. Know- 
ing the influence of the priest, and being dependent upon 
the French settlers for provisions for the gamson, and wish- 
ing to retain their friendship, Governor Hamilton agreed to 
free his prisoner on condition that he should do nothing 
against the British interests on his way to St. Louis. 

Yigo promised, and taking with him two "voyageura'' 
(^^'aya-zhurz), or "woodmen," he embarked in a piroque 
and rowed rapidly down the Wabash River to the Ohio' — 
down that stream to its mouth, then hastened up the Missis- 
sippi imtil he reached the village of St. Louis. He had 
kept his promise: he had done notliing on the way to injure 
the British cause. He was now at the end of his journey 
and free to do as he chose. Hurriedly changing his cloth- 
ing and collecting a few needed articles, he again entered liis 
boat, and rowed with the current back to Ivaskaskia, to in- 
form Colonel Clark of all that he had learned at ^"incennes. 
The information was not very encouraging to Clark and his 
little band of soldiers. Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton 
held Fort Sackville with eiglity well- trained men, and was 
well supplied with arms and ammunition. He had im- 
proved and strengthened the fort, and was liable to receive 
reinforcements any day. If allowed to remain until spring 
he would doubtless have a large force of soldiers and In- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 71 

dians, and would probabty march against Kaskaskia and the 
towns in the Illinois country. 

With his usual promptness; and daring, Colonel Clark de- 
cided to attack I o-rt Sackville before this could be done, and 
immediately began his preparations. lie bought a large 
Mississippi Eiver boat, called the ^'AVilling," which he 
mounted with eight large guns, loaded with artillery and 
provisions, and manned with forty-eix men. Placing all in 
command of Lieutenant Rogers, he gave orders for him to 
force his way up the AVabash as far as the mouth of White 
River, and there await further instructions. The boat was 
much adndred by tlie inhabitants of Kaskaskia,, for, as 
Colonel Clark said, ^'Xo such thing had been seen in the 
country before.'^ 

The "Willing'' sailed on February 4tli, and the following 
day Colonel Clark, with one hundred and thirty men, left 
Kaskaskia in charge of the militia, and started to march to 
Yinceflines, a distance of ooie hundred and sixty miles. 

This journey across the unbroken prairies of Illinois was 
one of hardship and suffering to those brave soldiers and 
their gallant leader. It was in the middle of winter, and 
although not very cold, it rained almost continuously, ^and 
the prairies were very wet. 

In those early days, before the country had been drained, 
the ground became soaked with water during the rainy sea- 
son, which, finding no outlet, stood in great ponds and 
lakes, sometimes covering miles and miles of land. Tlirmigh 
this the troops were obliged to pass, oftentimes waist deep 
in Avater. The streams Avere swollen and almost impassable, 
and -to add to their suffering, their food gave out, and 
weary, wet and hungry, they were obliged to travel on 



72 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

tliroiigli the pouring rain, finding no spot where they could 
rest or dry their clothing. On the morning of the IStli, 
after fourteen days of Aveary marching, the soldiers found 
themselves ten miles from Yincennes, hut separated from it 
hy a swollen river over which they must pass, while the 
most of the countvry which lay between them and the town 
was covered with water three feet or more in depth. The 
''Willing" was not expected for two or three days; they had 
no food land could not wait for her. ^Vhat 'should they do? 
Men were sent to look for boats, but none could be found. 

For two days the troops remained in this condition. The 
men were discouraged and some of the French volunteers 
threatened to return. It needed the strong will of their 
leader to govern them at this trying time. To keep them 
occupied. Colonel Clark put 'them to work making canoes. 
That dav, five I'renchmen came down the river in a boat 
and told Colonel Clark that his preseaice had not yet been 
discovered; that the people of Vincennes were friendly 
toward the Americans, and that tvv^o canoes were adrift in 
the river above. 

All this was encouraging. Men were sent after the boats, 
one of wdiich the.y secured. That day one of the men killed 
a deer, which saved them from famishing. The next day 
they were all ferried across the river, and marched for three 
miles through waiter which in places was up to their necks. 
In the evening they camped on a little hill, but they wei^e 
again without food, and half starving. 

The following day, they marched three miles fuirther, 
still without food. That night the weather turned very 
cold, and the wet clothing of the men froze upon them; they 
almost perished from cold and hunger. They had still four 



YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 73 

miles to travel tlirongli water up to their breasts, and cov- 
ered vdih a thin coating of ice. How could they, in their 
weak and famislied condition, make that dreaded four miles? 
Many of the men were on the point of turning back; but the 
courage of their leader never deserted him, and he left them 
no time to hesitate. He made them a short speech, urging 
them to keep up their courage, and pointing to a wood be- 
yond a plain, told them that there lay the end of their jour- 
n€y, and without waiting for a reply, he plunged into the 
water, breaking the ice as he went. 

The men were encouraged by this act, and with a shout 
for -their dauntless commander, followed him. Calling to 
Major Bowman, who was second in command, 'and Clairk's 
most trusted friend, lie instructed him to fall back with 
twenty-five men, and to shoot anyone who refused to follow. 
They reached the woods with great difficulty, but found no 
diy land. On they plunged through the water, stumbling 
over roots and fallen trees, the boats following the nearly 
exhausted men, and picking up those who could go no fur- 
ther. At last dry land was reached, and fires were kindled. 
Soon the wet and tired men wei^e warm and dry. A boat 
containing some squaws and children was captured. In the 
boat were found some buffalo meat, corn, tallow, and sorae 
kettles. Food was quickly prepared, and the spirits of the 
men began to revive. Their long jo'urney was nearly at an 
end. They were now fairly comfortable, and were able to 
take a hopeful view of the situation, and after resting a few 
hours, they were ready to attack Fort Sackville. 

Colonel Clark knew that v/ith liis small force of weak and 
exhausted men, it would be impossible to capture the fort 
unless he could first secure the inhabitants of the village, or 



74 YOUKC 1»B0PLE"S HISTQRY OF IXPIAKJL. 

at least preTent them from assisting the British soldiers. 
So he caused a French settler to be captured smd sent hiiii to 
inform the people of Vincennes tiiat his 'Tinny*' \vas about 
to attack the fort, and ihat all who were friendlv to the 
Americans must remain within their houseS; and that tliose 
who were friendlv to the English kins: must, sjo to *the fort 
and assist Governor Hamilton. 

This scheme was snccessfuL The villagers were all fa- 
vorable to the Americans, and believing that Colonel Chuk 
was approaching with a hirge army, they kept lo their 
houses. Just as it was growing dark, Colonel Claris 
marclied his men over a liigh point of ground in such a man- 
ner as to make it apj^ear that he had a much larger force 
than he really had. He then marched into the village, 
which immeiliat^y surrendered. Some of the citizens of- 
fered to join the soldiers, and an InJian chief called "The 
Tol:«aeco'' offered Colonel Clark a hundred warriors. The 
chief was treate«i with kindness, but his services were de- 
clined. The British soldiers were not informed of the ap- 
proach of the Americans and had no warning of danger 
until fired upon. They resisted the attack, and all night 
long the firing continued. The next morning. Colonel 
Clark sent a messenger imder a flag of truce, to Governor 
Hijnilton, dananding the surrender of the fort, and tbreat- 
cning to show no mercy shotild he be obliged to take it by 
fof»?e. 

Thiring the night the Americans had thrown entrench- 
ments of earth across the street, and protected by this, they 
had every advantajre over the enemy. 3Ir. Dunn, in his 
hist«^ of Indiana, savs: ''These frontiersmen were ait that 
time the best marksmen known to the world, and at these 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 75 

distances— from sixty to oaie lumdred and twenty yards — 
a silver dollar was as large a target as tliey cared for. 
AVlieuever a port-liole was open a dozen bullets flew tlirougli 
it, playing such liavoc witli tlie gumiei*s that the oaimoin 
could not be fired with effect, and causing them soon )to be 
abandoned. Every crack at which a sign of life appeared 
was made a target. Several Bi-itish soldiers fell with bul- 
lets through tlieir eyes." The IJritish became discouraged, 
and in the afternoon Governor Hamilton sent a flag of truce 
with a letter to Colonel Clark, suggesting that they cease 
firing for three days, and requesting him 'to meet the Brit- 
ish officer at the gate of the fort to talk over the situation. 

Colonel Clark would agree to nothing but complete sur- 
render, and replied that if Gove-mor Hamilton wished to 
see him he would meet him at the village church. This lie 
did. Colonel Clark took with him his friend Major Bow- 
man; Governor Hamilton was accompanied by the British 
ofTicer, ^fajor Hay, and his Americ-an pnsoner, Captain 
Helm. They held a council in the chiu'ch, but could come 
to no agreement, for Couonel Clark would accept nothing 
but entire surrender, and to this Governor Hamilton would 
not consent. Captain Helm urged Colonel Clark to accept 
milder terms, but was informed that, being a prisoner, he 
had no right to speak in council. Governor Hamilton at 
once offered to release Captain Helm, but Clark would not 
permit him, and insisted that the prisoner must return to 
the fort until matters were settled. They them returned to 
their respective positions and began firing again. 

On the 25tli of February, 1779, the fort was surrendered 
with all its stores and supplies, and the Brititsh officers and 
soldiers were lield as prisonei's. The following day, two 



\ 



76 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

British officers and tliirty-eiglit soldiers wlio were on t)lie 
way to reinforce Governor Hamilton, with seven boat loads 
of provisions, were captured by the Americans. The next 
day the ^^AVilling" arrived. The crew were much disap- 
pointed that they had no part in the capture of Foo^t Sack- 
vilk. The British officers were sent to the Ohio Falls, and 
afterwards taken to Virginia, where all except Hamilton, 
Hay, and two others, were released on parol. These four 
were kept in prison for several months, but, on recommen- 
dation of General George Washington, they were finally re- 
leased. The private soldiers were set at liberty on taking 
an oath that they would not again bear arms lagainst the 
Americans. The Stars 'and Stripes again floated over Yin- 
cennes, never to be replaced by British colors. 

So ended the conquest of the I^orth'western Territory, 
and all this vast country was added to the State of Virginia, 
and the western boundary of the United States fixed at the 
Mississippi Biver instead of the Ohio. The attacks on the 
settlements ce-ased for a time, land the Indians professed to 
be ait peace with the Americans. The ^'Piankeshaw" Indi- 
ans^ when they found that it was not Colonel Clark's inten- 
tion to drive them from their hunting-ground, presented 
him with the gift of a tract of land two and a half leagues 
square (seven and a half miles square) on the west side of 
tlie Ohio Falls. 

After the capture of the fort. Colonel Clark did not re- 
main long at Vincennes. The garrison was placed in com- 
mand of Captain Shelly, and the name changed to Fort Pat- 
rick Henry, in honor of the Governor of Virginia. Cap- 
tain Helm was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs 
on the AVabash, and Colonel Clark sailed down tlie river on 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 77 

board the "AVilling," taking with him seventy of his men 
and the boats he had captured from the British. The wa- 
ters were very high and in a few days the little fleet arri^'ed 
at Ivaskaskia, to the great joy of the friends who were anx- 
iously waiting to receive them. 

Again we see a ch'ange in the government of the territory 
now called Indiana. From the possession of the British, it 
passed into that of tlie United States, and became a part of 
the State of Virginia, and was organized into the "County 
of Illinois." 

After the capture of Vincennes and the towns in the Illi- 
nois country, Colonel (now General) Clark turned his 
thoughts toward the capture of Detroit, but was disappoint- 
ed in his eiforts to secure reinforcements to his troops, and 
finally the plan was abandoned. Dividing his forces be- 
tween Post Vincennes, Kaskaskia, Colioka and the Ohio 
Falls, he took up his own quarters at the Falls, that he 
might watch over the affairs of the territory. After this, 
immigration to the territory northwest of the Ohio River 
rapidly increased. It is said 'that in the spring of 1780 three 
hundred large family boats arrived at the Falls of the Ohio. 

It is ever to be regretted that the men who were the in- 
struments in securing to the United States this vast and 
valuable territory were never fully rewarded for their serv- 
ices. Clark, Vigo, and Gibault, the trio which stands out 
in bold relief in connection mth the conquest and early set- 
tlement of the country lived to feel the ingratitude of their 
countrymen. Father Gibault parted from his property that 
the money might aid Clark in can-ying on the 'expedition, 
and in holding possession of the country; Francis Vigo 
loaned him many thousand dollars for the same purpose, 



78 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and both believed, as did Clark, that the government of the 
United States and that of Virginia, would repay them, but 
they Avere disappointed in their expectations. Their just 
claims were not allowed until both had been reduced to pov- 
ert}', and Francis Vigo had been in his grave many years 
before his claim was adjusted. Both men died very poor, 
and General Clark lived a disappointed man for many years 
at his home near the Falls of the Ohio. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Indiana Becomes the Property of the United States — Indian Out- 
breaks — General Wayne. 

The Governor and people of Virginia were well pleased 
when they learned 'that all the British posts and towns in 
the Illinois country had been captured by Colonel Clark 
and his brave Virginia troops. It was an important con- 
quest, and words of praise for Colonel Clark were spoken 
by every one. Governor Henry sent a letter to the Conti- 
nental Congress, giving an account of the success of Colonel 
Clark's movements, and the Virginia Legislature adopted 
resolutions of thanks and approval, and passed a law organ- 
izing all the territory northwest of the Ohio into the County 
of IlJinois. Under tliis law, Governor Patrick Henry ap- 
pointed Colonel John Todd County Lieutenant of thi3 
Illinois, or, Commandant-in-Chief, as he was sometimes 
called, and gave him authority to appoint deputy command- 
ants, militia officers and commissioners. He also had the 
power to pardon all oHenders, except those guilty of mur- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 79 

der and treason; these were required to be brouglit before 
the Governor and General Assembly. 

So, Colonel Jolin Todd became tbe first ruler over the 
new territory. He arrived at Xaskaskia in May, 1779, a 
few days after Clark's retu.rn from Vincennes. llis first 
act was to order an election for the pur[30se of choosing offi- 
cei's for the territory. This was the first election held in In- 
diana and the country northwest bf the Ohio. Colonel 
Clark was appointed (ieneral and given command of lall 
blie troops and the management of tlie militaiy affaii*s in. 
the Illinois County. 

In June^ 1779, Colonel Todd visited Yincennes and es- 
tablished the first court in Indiana. It was composed of sev- 
eral magistrates, and Colonel J. M. P. Legras, wlio was 
commandant of the fort, was made president of the court, 
Tiiese ofiicers held their positions until 1787, and their au- 
thority was unquestioned, until they assumed the power to 
give away large tracts of land to officers and citizens of the 
to^^^l, not forgetting to provide for themselves and for each 
other. Colonel Todd only remained in the Illinois country 
from May until the following winter. lie was elected rep- 
resentative to the Virginia Legislature from the County of 
Kentucky, in the spring of 1780, and was killed in battle 
two years later. 

From the capture of the fort by the ^'irginia troops until 
the arrival of General Ilarmair, in 1787, the inhabitants of 
Vincennes and the other tewns in Indiana, had a pretty 
hard time. All commerce was shut off' between Detroit and 
the towns on the AVabash, while the Indians on the south, 
who were British allies, became foes to the Americans, and 
prevented trade from being carried on down the Mississippi 



80 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

River. As a consequGnce, p-rices became veay high; tike 
cost of provisions was four or five tirrnes a-s much as former- 
ly, 'ami the merchants were accused of taldng ^advantage of 
the situation by charging exorbitant prices and becoming 
rioh off the misfortunes of the settlers, and many were ob- 
liged to move away on account of the hard times. 

To make matters worse for tlie settlers, the soldiers were 
removed from Yincennes in 1780, and the Indians, losing 
their fear of the Americans, again became hostile and at- 
tacked the forts and settlements ^and did great damage. A 
number of expeditions were sent 'against them, but failed 
to stop their depredations. 

• The winter of 1782 was one of great and terrible suffer- 
ing on tlie western frontier. Many settlers were murdered 
or taken prisoners and their homes plundered and destroyed. 
Again expeditions were sent against the savages, and many 
Indian villages and fields of grain were destroyed, although 
the most of the Indians made their escape. During this 
winter a provisional treaty was concluded between tlie 
United States and Great Britain, which prevented the In- 
dians from securing supplies and ammunition from the Brit- 
ish, so they were obliged to cease their hostilities, and for 
three years there was quiet on the frontier, during Avhich 
time the Americans offered peace to the Indians and tried 
to purchase land from them. Some of the tribes were quite 
willing to be friends and to sell some of their lands, but the 
greater number were determined to keep their temtory 
northwest of the Ohio, and, fearing the Americans would 
take advantage of son)e of the weaker tribes, and secure 
their lands, they formed a confederacy, or band^ called the 
Great ISToirthwestem, or, Miami Confederacy, and made an 



YOUNCt PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 81 

agi'eement tlia.t no land conkl be ceded to tlie Americana 
witJioiit tlie co-nsent of lall the tril)es, raid they deterinined 
to fight for their h an'ting-ground and to prevent an}' terri- 
tory belono-inc to 'them from falling?; into tlie hands of the 
Americans. Indiana was the seat of this confedeiracy, 'and 
for ten years no settlements were allowed to form ^north of 
the Ohio I\iver. 

You will remember that by the conquest of George Rog- 
ers Clark all the coimtry lying north and west of the Ohio 
River, as far as the Mississippi River and the great lakes, 
became la part of the State of Virginia., and was called the 
County of Illinois, and that Indiana was a part of this coun- 
ty. The time was approaching when another change was to 
take place in the territory. 

The Virginia Legislature resolved, under certain condi- 
tions, to give the country Colonel Clark had taken from the 
British to the United States Goveimment, and it sent bn 
oiTer of this gift to 'the Continental Congress. The mem- 
bers of Congress agreed to accept the gift, and the Virginia 
Legislature passed an act authorizing their delegates in Con- 
gress to deed to the United States all that territory lying 
northwest of the Ohio River which was claimed by the State 
of Virginia. The Virginia delegates who made or execuited 
this deed were Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Llardy, Arthur 
Lee and James JMonroe. Two of these men, Thomas Jeffe]> 
son and James Monroe, afterward became Presidents of the 
United States. 

One of the conditions which Virginia proposed, and to 

which Congress agreed, was that the territory should be 

divided and formed into States, and that each State should 

not be less than one hundred nor more than one hundred 

6 



82 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and fifty miles square, or as near that extent as possible. 
Another condition was that the French settlers at Yince'nues 
and Kaskaskia fehould have tlie titles to tiieir lands icooi- 
firmed, or made perfect, and that one liundre'd and fifty 
thonsand acres of land should he given to Colonel Clark 
and his officers and men. This tract of land was laid off on 
the Ohio Kiver near tlie '^falls,'' and was called the ^'Illinois 
Grant," or ^'Clark's Grant.'' 

Altbougli the territory then belonged to the United 
States, the Indians still claimed and possess-ed the greater 
part of the land, jnsit as 'the farmer owns and possess^es liis 
land, which also forms a part of the United States. Before 
it could be settled it was necessary for tlie Americans either 
to drive the savages out of the country and rob th.'ein of their 
land or to purchase it of tbem. 

The government resolved 'to take the 'honorable icoiuise 
and purchase the land in as large quantities as possible, 'amd 
as rapidly as the territory was secured to encourage emi- 
grants to settle upon it. They had difficulty in doing this, 
hov/ever, for the Indians Refused to part from their hunt- 
ing-grounds which bad been the home of tlieir tribes for no 
one knows liow long; so, in the month of August, 17S5, they 
called a grand council of all the Indian tribes at Ouiatanon, 
on the Wabash, for the purpose of forming a plan by which 
they could prevent the Americans from 'settling north of the 
Ohio Itiver. The Indians gathered in large numbers from 
all parts of the great noirthwestern territory. There weire 
many hundreds of them, and they came hundreds of miles 
through the forests and across the prairies, to be present at 
this council, or convention, as we would now call it. 

The chiefs 'and leading men of the tribes made long 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 83 

speeches, in wliicli tliey told the Indians how the white men 
were trying to rob them of their land and game, an<l kill or 
drive them from the country their fathers had tlaimed so 
long. They painted their faces, and decked themselves in 
their wild fashion, and held their hideous war dances, and 
sc excited the savages and aroused their passion for blood 
and murder that thev were readv to make war on the Amer- 
icans at once, and were eager to plunder, torture and kill 
them. 

Ihe Indians really had cause for alarm, for the white men 
had been very unjust to them, and in some cases had been 
almost as cruel as the savages themselves and had killed 
and robbed them without mercy. So all these things were 
talked over at this council meeting, and the great men de- 
cided that they would go to war lagainst the AmcTicans, and 
kill or drive them from the country. The other Indians 
were eager to follow their leaders, and flourished their tom- 
ahawks in a terrible manner and threatened to kill all the 
white people they could find. Then the chief men notified 
the I'rench settlers at Yincennes and the otlier towns on the 
Wabash that they must leave the country, for war was to 
be made against the Americans and that all who remained 
would be treated as enemies. 

The Indians returned to their homes to get ready for war. 
The following winter they began their bloody work. Sev- 
eral settlers were killed, and in the spring a number of tra- 
ders were attacked. At Vincenrifes the American farmers 
were attacked and their homes destroyed. This so alarmed 
the "settlers that many of them fled to Kemtucky ; others 
were killed, and others moved into the fort for protection. 

Hatters <rrew from bad to worse ; no one was safe for an 



84 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

hour; so tlie next year ,a strong force of men was gent from 
Kentucky to protect the settlers. The plan was to attack 
all the principal Indian towns p.t the same time, destroy 
them and kill or drive the inhabitants away. 

General Clark, at the liead of a thousand men, marched 
from the Falls of the Ohio toward Vincennes, but, unfor- 
tunately, he was suffering from what be felt to be an injusr- 
tice by the government and had taken to drink, and so loist 
the confidence of his men ; he was unable to control them as 
he had done on that terrible march from Xaskaskia; many 
of tliem deserted him, and the expedition had to be aban- 
doned. Another force, which was sent out at the same time 
under Captain Logan, was more successful. At Yincennes 
a council was held by the officers belonging to Clark's ex- 
pedition, and the fort was again garrisoned by two hundred 
and fifty infantry and a company of artillery under Captain 
Thomas Dalton. 

On October 5, 1787, the Continental Congress elected 
Arthur St. Clair Governor of the Northwestern Territory 
and instructed him to secure peaoe, as far as possible, be- 
t\\een the United States and the Indian tribes occupying 
the country, and to regulate the trade, secure all the land 
he could from the Indians, gain the friendship of the chief 
men of the tribes, prevent tliem from combining against the 
Americans and to i^ecure the good will of the settlers. As 
yet no States had been formed, and all the territory which 
now composes the States of Indiana, Illinois, ^lichigan, 
^Visconsin and a part of Ohio and Minnesota was called the 
"Northwestern Territory.'' 

The first act of Governor St. Clair was to organize a gov- 
erament for the new territory. In July, 1788, he went to 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 85 

Marietta, Ohio, and with the assistance of the judges of the 
gejieral coiu't of the Territory, he jJuLlished la nvimber of 
laws for the government of the people. The most of these 
laws related to the establishment and holding of courts in 
the Territory. It was more than a year before he visited the 
Illinois country to organize a goveoiment there. 

After the conquest of the Koi'th^vestern Territory the 
settlers along the Wabash Kiver suffered great misfortunes. 
They had parted with everything they could spare to aid 
Colonel Clark and to furnish provisions for his troops, tak- 
ing certificates from him, which the State of Virginia had 
refused to pay. For three years in succession their crops 
were destroyed by floods, and one year by untimely frost®. 
Their trade mth the Indians had been broken off, and the 
settlers had become very poor, and some of them were ton 
the point of starvation. They were further troubled by an 
order from the government to have the land claimed by the 
French inhabitants surveyed, at the expense of the o^vners, 
for the purpose of establishing their claims. This they were 
too poor to do. Our old friend. Father Gibault, who was 
still their adviser, wrote a pathetic letter to Governor St. 
Clair, in which he told him of the miseirable condition of 
the settlers; that they were scarcely able to sustain the'ir 
pitiful existence, and should not be required to pay the ex- 
pense of a survey, for which they could see no necessity. 

In the hope of making peace witli the Indians, Governor 
St. Clair wrote lettere to the different tribes, and Major 
John F. Ilamtranck, who was commandant at Fort Yin- 
cennes, sent Antonie Gamlin to deliver them. Gamlin 
started from Yincennes, April 5, 1790, and visited the 
tribes of the Piankeshaws, Ivickapoos, Ouiatajion?^ Dela- 



80 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

wares, Shawnees, Pottav^attomies, Miamis and Weas. The 
speeclies lie read to tliem were listened to with interest, but 
each trib€ told him they could do nothing without the con- 
sent of all the otheir tribes, on account of the confederacy 
they had formed. 

Gamlin traveled from tribe to tribe, making speeches and 
trying to secure peace between them and the Americans, but 
the reply was always the same ; each tribe must consult the 
others before they could give him an answer. They re- 
quested him tO' go to Detroit, which was the capital of the 
confederacy, but he refused to go, and they promised that in 
"thirty nights" a young man should be sent fi^om each tribe 
to infonn him of their decision. 

lie haJ scarcely left them, however, when some of these 
tribes went to war against the Americans; one inani was cap- 
tured and burned alive at the Miami village. When thirty 
nights had passed, the young Indian men, one from each 
tribe, came, as they had promised, and told Gamlin that 
there could be no peace between 'them and the Americans. 

When Governor St. Clair received notice that the Indians 
refused to treat for peace, that they were determined to go 
to war, and that there was no hope of securing the safety of 
the settlers on the frontier, he determined to go to Fort 
Washington to consult General Harmar about sending a 
strong expedition against the Indians. Leaving his secre- 
tary, Winthrop Sargant, to perform the duties of Governor 
during his absence, he started on his journey. It took him 
mo-re than a month to travel from Kaskaskia to Fort Wash- 
ington, which Avas situated where the city of Cincinnati now 
stands. Arriving at Fort Washington, he had a long con- 
ference with General Harmar, who decided to send a strong 
forcQ of men against the Indians, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 87 

George Wadiington, who was then President of the 
United States, gave General Ilarmar autho'rity to call one 
thousand militiamen from the State of Virginia and five 
hundred from Pennsylvania, which he at once did, himself 
leading the expedition. He succeeded in destroying many 
Indian villages, and severely punished the savages for their 
cruelty, but failed to compel them to -sue for peace, las the 
President expected him to do; nor did he greatly relieve the 
suffering of the settlers along the Ohio Piver. 

Other 'expeditions followed this, and many towns and 
villages were destroyed, and many Indians were killed and 
taken prisoners, but still they were not conquered. They 
were fighting for their homes and the land of their father^s, 
which they believed to be rightfully theirs, and which they 
also believed the Americans were tr^dng 'to take from them ; 
and they were fighting for their race, which they believed 
the whites were trying to destroy. Other nations have 
fought for their homes, their families land their liberties, 
and- been extolled for the act. The Indians were doing no 
less, but the struggle was an unequal one. 

Governor St. Clair collected a large force of men for the 
purpose of establishing a strong military post on the Wa- 
bash near the ^liami ^dllagc. He reached this place on No- 
vember 23d with about fourteen hundred men. The next 
^day they v/ere attacked by the Indians, and the troops beiug 
untrained, he was defeated with great loss 'of life: Thirty- 
nine officers and five hundred and ninety-three men were 
killed and taken prisoners. Twenty-two officers and two 
hundred and forty-two men were wounded. Those who 
were captured were treated with the utmost cruelty by the 
savnges; their limbs were torn from their bodies and they 
were otherwise hoiiiblv tortured. 



88 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

After tliis defeat Governor St. Clair rcsignied liis oifice of 
Major General^ and Anthony Wayne was appointed to com- 
mand the troops in the Northwestern Te^rritory. Wich liini 
were associated General James Wilkinson, who aftcrwai'd 
succeeded him, and General Thomas Posey, who became 
Governor of Indiana Territory. Both were officers in tho 
Revolutionary war, and were men of military reputation. 
Trom the early part of the year 1792 to August, 1793, Gen- 
eral Wayne v/as busy recruiting, organizing and training 
his army. 

All this time the United States Government was trying 
to procure treaties of peace and friendship with the Indians, 
by sending messengers to assure them that the govern irient 
had no intention of robbing them and would take no hinds 
for which the Indians had not been well paid, or (had not 
bv fair treatv ceded to the United States. But the Indians 
did not believe this and captured and killed some of the mes- 
sengers sent to them. This condition O'f affairs continued 
until August, 1794, when the Indians were finally overcome 
by the large force under General Wayne. 

On the 2Gth of July, 1793, ({eneral Scott, with a force of 
mounted Kentucky volunteers, joined General Wayne at 
Uoii: Greenville, Ohio, where he had 'assembled his troops. 
Two days later the entire force marched toward the Indian 
towns on the Maumee Biver. Near the present city of Mau- 
mee, Ohio, (Stood the Fort Miami, which, although within 
tlie limits of the United States, Avas still in the h'ands of tlie 
British soldiers. Here, almost within reach of the British 
guns, a battle was fouaht betw^een the Indians and the 
united forces of General Scott and General Wayne, in 
vvdiich the Americans gained a complete victory over thQ 
savages. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 89 

These two- battles were fought Avithin the present State 
of Ohio, but it required one more battle to destroy the In- 
dian confederacy and gain a final victory over them. This 
decisive battle, one of the most important in Indian warfare, 
was fought on Indiana soil. 

On taking command of the United States troops, General 
Wayne at 'once saw the necessity of e[recting a fortiti cation 
which would command the portage, or high ridge of laiul, 
that separates the Maumce and Wabash Rivers, 'aind so pre- 
vent all commuiuication between the Indian tiibcs on the 
east and those on tlie west. If this could be done', the In- 
dian confederacy conld be easily destroyed and a final vic- 
tory obtained. AVith this purpose in Yiew, on the^ llth of 
September, General Wayne moved his larmy toward Ke-ki- 
on-ga, the deseirted ]\Iiami village which stood where the 
rivers St. ^lary and St. Joseph linite. Here he caused a 
fort to be built and strongly garriso/ned, and placed it in 
command of Colonel John F. Hamtranck, who gave it the 
name of Fort Wayne. Here, on August 20, 1794, the final 
battle was fought which broke the power of the Miaini con- 
federacy. ^'Little Turtle,'' the chief of the Miami tribes, 
advised his people to mtake peace with the Americans, buit 
tlie savages had been victorious over Generals St. Clair and 
Ilarmar and believed they could defeat Greneral Wayne; 
but in this they were mistakein. They were noi match for 
tlie well trained troops of General AVayne, who gained a 
com])lete victory over them. The power of the Indian con- 
federacy was 'destroyed by this battle, and a final treaty of 
peace was concluded at Greenville, Ohio, August 3, 1705. 
At this grand council articles of agreement were signed, 
fixing the boundary lines of the Indian lands. The United 



90 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

States agreed to pay for cei'tain lands ceded by the Indians 
and also to pay to tliem certain yearly sums, called annui- 
ties. Tins agreement was signed by .tlie Cliippewas, Otta- 
wae, Pottawattomies, Weas, Wyandottes, Delawares, Sliaw- 
nees and Kickapoos. The treaty Avas (satisfactory to the 
United States Government and to all the other Indian tribes 
occupying the territory. 

After tliis defeat, Little Turtle gathered his people to- 
gotheii- and returned with them to the country on the upper 
^Vabash, where he spent the rest of 'his life trying to save 
tliem from the influence of bad ^vhite men. He saw the 
effects of intemperance upon the Indians, and, calling his 
people together, talked to them of the evils of "fire water," 
and proposed to them that they should all promise to drink 
no more of it. The Indians agreed to this, and they all gave 
Little Turtle a pledge, which, with few 'exceptions, they 
faithfully kept. So, to the Indian chief. Little Turtle, be- 
longs the honor of forming the first temperance society in 
Indiana. 

After the treaty of peace was signed between the Indians 
and the United States, the efforts of the government were 
directed toward civilizing the savages in this part of the 
country. This, however, was a difficult undertaking; but 
few of them could be induced to cultivate the land, or work 
in shops, or perform any kind of manual labor. Tliey dis- 
liked work of all kinds and refused to live by any means ex- 
cept hunting. For this reason the Indian race has been 
doomed to pass from the face of 'the earth, like the game 
which they hunted and the forests through which they 
roamed. , 

This is natural, and it is right that 'this vast territoay 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 91 

should be made the homes of thousands of industrious, law- 
abiding people. It has been said that territory large enough 
to support a thousand Indians by hunting will furnish 
homes for hundreds of thousands of white men, and doubt- 
less this is true. 



CIIAPTEE IX. 

The First Laws of Indiana — A Territorial Legislature Organized — 

Vincennes. 

You will remembOT that when Goveimor St. Clair left the 
County of the Illinois to go to Fort Washington to jonsult 
General Ilarmar concerning the wisdom of sending an expe- 
dition against the Indians, he left the affairs of the Territory 
in the 'hands of the Territorial Secretary, Winthrop Sar- 
gant, wlio acted as Governor during his absence. Under in- 
structions from Governor St. Clair, he went to Vincennes 
and laid out the County of Knox, organized the militia, and 
a})pointed civil and military officers. This was llie first 
county organized in the State of Indiana. It originally em- 
braced about one-third of the State on the west. It has, 
from time to time, been divided, and out of it thirty of the 
present counties of Indiana have been organized. 

In 1791 Congress gave the Governor of the Territory the 
power to confirm the titles to land to such persons as had re- 
ceived gi'ants from the French king land the early officers 
of the Territory, who had actually improved and cultivated 
the land they held, allowing not more than fou>r hundred 
acres to any one person. 



92 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

That summer acting Governor Sargant and tlie two 
judges of tlie Territory, John Cleves Symms and George 
Turner, published the three first laws of Indiana. One of 
them was to prevent the selling of intoxicating drinks to the 
Indians, another was to regulate the sale of liquors to the 
soldiers and to prevent them from selling their iarms, am- 
munition and clothing; the other law was to suppress g'am- 
bJing. 

]3uring the years 1790 to 1792 a number 'of laws were 
adopted, and published at Cincinnati, for the government 
of the entire Territory. The majority of these laws related 
to the establishment of courts, punishment of crime, and 
provided for the appointment of officers. One of these laws 
directed that a court house, jail, pillory, stocks and whip- 
ping-post should be built in every county; another declared 
that "persons assisting in the escape of prisoners should be 
punished by fine, imprisonment, whipping, by the pillory, 
or sitting on the gallows with a rope around his or her 
neck." AVhat strange old laws these were, and how barbar- 
ous they would seem if practiced now; but those were rough 
times on the frontier, and many Tough lamd lawless people 
had come to the new Territory who could only be governed 
by stern laws, suited to their rugged surrooindings. As the 
country developed the character of the people changed, and 
it became necessary to change the laws which governed 
them, and, while we still have jails and prisons, we never 
hear of pilloay and whipping-post. 

FoT some time the United States had been having trouble 
with Spain, concerning the navigation of the Mississippi 
Kiver. You will remember that France had secretly ceded 
to Spain all her temtory west of the Mississippi, before the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 93 

I^orth western TeTritorj was ceded to Great Britain. The 
Spaniards not only claimed this territory, hut denied that 
tlie ^ri,s6issippi Eiver was the honndary line between the 
United States and the Spanish possessions, and claimed tlie 
right to control its navigation, and forbade the Americans 
from passing down the river with their merchandise. 

This was a serious matter to the settlers and traders of the 
Northwestern Territory. They must have a market for 
their produce, and the Mississippi River was the natural out- 
let of the Ohio Valley. In those early days, before the time 
of railroads, when even the best wagon roads were but open- 
ings through the forests, it was practically impossible to 
transport produce across the country to the markets ( a/st of 
the Alleghany Mountains. With the navigation of the Mis- 
sissippi denied them, the settlers were shut off from the mar- 
kets of the world. 

This and other national questions oame neair plunging the 
country into war with Spain and Prance, but it was wisely 
averted, 'and a ti'eaty of peace was finally concluded on 
March 3, 1.79 G. By this agTeement, the boundary line 
was fixed at the Mississippi Biver and navigation again 
opened, but not until an attempt had been made to separate 
the territory northwest of the Ohio from the United States 
and either unite it with Spain or form a separate govern- 
ment. 

At this time the British troops had been withdrawn from 
all the territory belonging to the United States; George 
Washington was President, and the new country was rapid- 
ly settling into a permanent and well-defined go^-ernment. 

In the year 1800, by a secret treaty with Napoleon Bona- 
parte, Spain restored to Prance the territory called Louisi- 



94 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

ana. This territOTy included all the land from the Missis- 
sippi River to the Tlocky Moiimtains, and from the Gulf of 
JVfexico to British America. Three years later E^apoleon 
sold land ceded Louisiana to the United States for the -sum 
of $15,000,000. Tlie following year a portion of Louisiana 
was attached to the Northwestern Territory, hut was soon 
aftenviard formed into a separate territory. 

vOn June 26, 1706, William Henry Harrison was ap- 
pointed Secretary of the Territory, to fill the vacancy caused 
hy the resignation of AVinthrop Sargant, who was appointed 
Governor of the Tenntory of Mississippi. Trom the time 
Arthur St. Clair was appointed Governor the laws which 
wore to govern the people of the ^'enTitory were made by the 
Teri'itorial Governor and judges, but the time had noav 
come when the people themselves were to have a voice in 
making the laws which were to govern them. 

Governor St. Clair ordered an election to be held by the 
'^^ualified voters" of the Temtory, for the purpose of elect- 
ing Representatives to a General Assembly, which he or- 
dered to meet at Cincinnati, January 22, 1799. According 
to this order, elections w^ere held in the different counties 
in the Territory. As yet, Ivnox was the only county organ- 
ized within the present State of India^na; indeed, no other 
counties Avere organized until 1802. 

The Representatives chosen at this election met at the 
time and place designated by the Governor. The first 'act 
of this assembly was to select ten men, a list of whose names 
was sent to the President of the United States, from which 
to choose a Legislative Council. John Adams was then 
President, and from this list he selected Jacob Burnet, 
James Findlav, ITenrv A^andea"biir«:h, Robert Olliver and 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. . 95 

David Yance ^o be the first Legislative Coimcil of the 
JSTortliwestern Territorv. These names were sent to Con- 
gress with President Adams's recommendation, and were 
confirmed by the United States Senate ^March 3, 1799. 

After submitting the names selected to the President, the 
representatives adjonrned to meet again in September. The 
two houses of the Territorial Legislature were organized on 
the 2 -Uh of that month. The council selected by the Presi- 
dent form.ed the highest branch of the Legislature and cor- 
responded to the Senate of to-day. Henry Vanderburgh 
was elected President of the Urst Legislative Council, and 
'William C. Schenk Secretary. 

On the 25th of September Governor St. Clair delivered 
kis firet address to tlie Territorial Legislature. After calling 
attention to various important subjects, he told the repre- 
sentatives that it was necessary for the lives and morals of 
the present and future generations that they should enact 
wise and just laws. Standing before that little body of 
twenty-four men, selected to jnake the laws which were to 
gov^em the people of the Territory out of which great States 
were to be formed, he looked into the future and saw that 
the happiness of millions of people depended upon their 
wisdom and integrity, and he pledged them his own aid and 
support in every good undertaking. 

The organization of the Territorial Legislature entitled 
tlie people to a delegate to Congress, and at this session the 
names of William Henry Harrison and Arthur St. Clair, a 
son of the Governor, were proposed as candidates. An elec- 
tion was held, at which Harrison received eleven votes and 
St. Clair ten. Ey this small majority William Henry Har- 
rison became the first delegate to Congress from the !N^orth- 
westem Territorv. 



96 YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Tliis session of the Legislature continued until December 
19 til, and during tlie time tliirty-seven acts were passed. 
Some of tliem were to regulate the courts and tlie practice 
of attorn'cys, to regulate inclosures, to fix the legal irutea^est 
on money, to establish taxes and regulate the fees '.and sal- 
aries of officers and representatiyes. Some were to preyent 
trespass, to create offices for Territorial goyernment, to pre- 
yent the sale of intoxicating liqueurs to the Indians, land to 
preyent the firing of Avoods and prairies. Others were to re^ 
lieye poor persons imprisoned for debt, to provide for tlie 
purishment of crime, to preyent yice, to regulate pujblio 
roads and highways, and to encourage tbe killing of wolyes. 

The last seems a curious law, looked at from a distance of 
a liundred years, but then tlie country was still a wilderness, 
infested by wild animals of eyery description native to the 
country. Wolves were one great pest ; not only did they en- 
danger human life, but they destroyed stock as well. To rid 
the country of them, the i^ovcrnment ])aid a sum of money 
for the scalp of every wolf killed. 

And now the territory northwest of the Ohio was lap- 
proaching the time when another chang'e was to talie place 
in its government. On the 7tli day of May, 1800, the Pres-- 
ident of the United States (.Mr. Adams) approved an ^ct of 
Congress to divide the Territory into two separate goyern- 
ments. 

It is well to pause here and look at the condition of the 
country and the people before this change is made. At that 
time there was no Indiana. The country which we now 
proudly call by that name was still a part of the great North- 
western Temtory, which was one division of the United 
States. The few small settlements made by the French and 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 97 

Canadians on the Wabash Itiver an-d at Fort Wayne still ex- 
isted, but we 'have seen that thev had a preth' hard time to 
Kvo after the tiade was broken oil between them and the 
British on the north and the Indians on the AVabash and the 
Ohio Hi vers. 

But now the British had retired to their own ten-itory 
and peace had been secured with the Indians. Thousands of 
imroigrants had come into the new Territory after the treaty 
at Greenville, but the little settlements they fonned, the few 
acres tliey cleared, scarcely made a beginning in the great 
wilderness of fo^^ests and prairies which made up the J^ortli- 
western Territory. 

At the final treaty with the Indians at Greenville, Oliio, 
in 1795, the boundary lines which were then established 
gave the Indians all the ten^itory lying within the present 
limits of the State of Indiana, except a tract of land six miles 
square, where the city of Fort Wayne- now stands; another 
two miles snuare, lvin2* about eioht miles west of Fort 
Wayne; a tract of land six miles square at Ouiatanon, on the 
Vfabash, soutliwest of LaFayette; one hundred 'and fifty 
thousand acres near the Ohio Falls, called the ^Tllinois" or 
"Clark's Grant;" the town of Yincennes and the land near 
it, to which the Indian titles had been extinguished, and a 
strip of land in the southeastern part of the State, out 'of 
which the present counties of Switzerland, Ohio, Dearborn, 
and a part of Franklin, Union, AYayne, Bandolph and Jay 
were formed. All the rest of the State of Indiana belonged 
to the Indians and was occupied by them. 

Within these tracts settlers built their cabins, cleared a 
few acres of ground, planted their grain and gathered their 
crops. In every direction from their little farms stretched 

7 



98 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

niilee and miles of f oreste, still inhabited by the red men and 
infested by wild animals — wohes, panthers, bears, wild-cats 
and deer — while in the w^estem part of the State great herds 
of buffalo w^ere to be foiiind, and the dark forests were filled 
wdth birds, insects and reptiles. 

After this treaty of peace, trade was again opened be- 
tween the settlers and the Indians, and carried on by mer- 
chants' and traders at Fort AVayne, Yincennes and other 
small trading points on the Wabash and other streams. Tbe 
rivers were tlie roadways of the country, and for many years 
took the i)]ace of the railroads and highways of the present 
time. Their navigation has since been greatly impaired by 
cutting the timber- from the land and by under-drainage, 
w^hich has taken the moisture from the ground and dried up 
tlie springs and many of the smaller streams. 

Tbe business of the country w^as very different from that 
of to-day. The merchants would build log houses, 'which 
they called trading-posts; here they would bring such goods 
as the Indians and settlers wanted, and trade them — not for 
money — there v;as very little of that to be had — but for the 
furs and skins of Avild animals. The skins were dried, com- 
pressed and made into secure packs, w^eighing about one 
hundred pounds. After the merchant, or trader, had col- 
lected as many as he could m.anage, he placed them in boats, 
or pirogues, that would carry about fifty of these packs, and 
shipped them to some large toAvn, either on the lakes or 
down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. 

Detroit was an important shipping point, and much of 
this kind of merchandise was sent there from this ten*itory. 
It took four men to manage one of these boats, and when 
the streams were in good condition they could travel fifteen 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 99 

or twenty miles in a clay, moving against the current. Tlies© 
men would ascend the AVabash Eiver and the little AVahash 
to the '^portage;" here the boats were unloaded, ^and the 
men would carry the packs across the portage to the lliead- 
waters of the Maumee River, where they were again placed 
in pirogues, or keel-boats, and taken to Detroit. Here the 
furs and skins were exchanged for blankets, guns, knives, 
powder, bullets, and not unfrequently for intoxicating 
liquors and such other articles as the settlers aud Indians 
wished. With his new supply of merchandise the trader re- 
turned to his post and resumed business. 

On December 15, 1796, General Anthony Wayne died, 
and General James Wilkinson was given command of tlie 
nOi'thwestern troops. A small force was stationed at Port 
Wayne and another at Yincennes, which was then called 
Fort Knox. Tliis force was in command of Captain Thomas 
Pasteur. Two years later the command was given to Cap- 
tain Robert Euntin. In the year 1795 a few families settled 
in Dearborn County, where the town of Lawrenceburg now 
stands, and another settlement was formed in Clark County, 
on the Ohio River. 

So closely is Yincennes connected with the history of In- 
diana that it is interesting to study tlie condition of the town 
and its inhabitants at the beginning of the nineteenth cen- 
tury. 

A noted historian who visited Yincennes in the summer 
of 1796 stated that at that time there were about fifty 
houses built abouit the old fort. Each house was surrounded 
by a fence built of poles, and inside of many of these inclos- 
iires were gardens in which peach and apple trees grew, and 
a variety of vegetables were cultivated. Fields of corn, 



100 YOUNG PEOPLE' S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

wlieat, barley, tobacco and cotton grew outside the \T.llage. 
J^ear the ri^^er was an inclosiire surrounded by wide, sharp 
stahes, six feet high, and this was again surrounded by a 
deep ditch eight feet wide. This was called the fort. 

The society of the little community was a mixture of civil 
and militaiy character. The white people were French, tlie 
remainder were Indians. They lived in peace with each ' 
other, and many of the French married Indians and adopted 
some of their' manners and customs. The people were kind 
and neighl)orly and hospitable to strangers, but they were 
indolent and without enterprise ; they were as idle as the In- 
dians themselves. 

The men roamed through the forests, or glided down the 
streams in their canoes, fishing and hunting a little, but they 
laid up no provisions for the winter, or for a ^'rainy *day." 
The women were as idle as the men. They were a happy, 
careless people, and gave no thought to the future. Few of 
them could either read or write ; they had no knowledge of 
arithmetic^ and had no use for books, but read tliedr lessons 
from their great book of nature, whose pages are always 
open to those who seek her truths. 

There were no courts in this little community. The com- 
mandant at the fort was attorney, judge and jury, aind bis 
decisions were final. AVhen a party complained that his 
neighbor had doaie him a wrong, the com^nandant notified 
the offender that he must make amends for injustice done 
hi? neighbor. If he did not do so, he was summoned to an- 
swer to the complaint. If he failed to appear, an officer was 
sent to bring him, and he was fined and kept in prison until 
he Avas willing to do justice to his adversary. 

The priests exercised tlie F^anie power over the spiritual 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 101 

affairs of the people that the coramiaiidant did over the tem- 
poraL From these poweirs there was no appcaL ISTone was 
desii'ed. The people were contented and happy to live their 
care-free lives. AVhy should they troiiiblc themselves about 
government, and sucli trilling mattea's? It was easy to pro- 
cure the necessities of life, and they knew nothing of lux- 
ui-ies. A shot from the rifle brought down gamci for their 
dinners. The streains were full of fish. They raised a little 
corn and fruit and a few vegetables; with these, and the 
wild honey they found in the forest, they lived like kings. 
Much of their clothing was made from the skins of animals; 
tlie remainder they bought from the traders. They had no 
use for money. The skins of animals were their standard of 
value. An article was worth — not so many dollars and 
cents, but so many pelts. 

And so these careless people lived their happy, idle liv^es, 
with no knowledge of the events that were taking place in 
the world outside their own little coininunit}^ They did 
not hear the tread of the sd;eady foot of progress that v/as 
soon to wake up their little colony and make it, oven again,- 1 
their will, to take its place in the advancement and govern- 
ment of a great State. 



CHAPTEK X. 

Indiana Territory Formed — General Harrison Governor — Second 

Grade Government. 

In Hay, 1800, the Congress of the United States made a 
law dividing the Northwestern Territory into two separale 
governments, by drawing a line from the mouth of the 



102 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Great Miami Eiver below Cincinnati to Port llecovery, and 
tlience north to Canada. The portion of the country west of 
this line, v/hich included the present States of Indiana, Illi- 
nois, Michigan, AVisconsin and a pa.rt of Minnesota, was or- 
gaijzed under the name of Indiana Teii-ritory, and tlie ?eat 
of uovernment, or capital, was fixed at Yincennes. On the 
loih of May, Wiiiiam Henry Harrison was appointed Gov- 
ernor of the Territory, and the next day John Gibson was 
appointed Secretary. Afterward "William Clark, Henry 
Vanderburgh and John Griffin were appointed Tenitorial 
Judges. 

..Vt this time the Territory of Indiana contained but three 
counties — Knox, Wayne and St. Clair — with a population 
of al)0ut five thousand. AVayne County included the entii^e 
State of Michigan, St. Clair County the State of Illinois and 
all the territory hing west and north of it, while Knox 
County included the organized portion of the present State 
of Indiana. 

In July Secretary Gibson went to Yincennes to make 'ap- 
pointments of oflicers and to provide for enforcing the la^\^. 
Governor Harrison did not arrive imtil January 10, 1801. 
lie at once called a meeting of the judges of Indiana Terri- 
tory for the purpose of adopting such laws as wexe needed 
for its government ; for you nuist remember that as yet the 
people had no voice in making tlie laws which were to gov- 
ern tihem, and that the Governor and judges not only made 
the laws, but the Governor appointed the officers to enforce 
them. 

They m^et on January 12th, and continued to meet from 
day to day until the 2Gth of the same month, and during 
the time adopted land published seven laws and three reso- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 103 

lutions. Tliey then adjourned, and on March 3d the Terri- 
torial Judges opened the first general court of Indiana at 
Yiiicennes, and the first grand juiy of Indiana was formed. 

From this time until the year 1810 the atteintion of tlio 
people of Indiana Territory was given to the subjects of 
land speculation, the adjustment of land titles, the question 
of negro slavery, tlie organization of .a Territorial Legisla- 
ture, the right of suffrage, the division of Indiana Tenitory, 
tlie acts of the Shawnee chief, Tecumscih^ and his brother, 
the Prophet, and the movements of Aaron Burr. 

Perhaps it would be Avell at this time to explain briefly 
the plans of Burr, which, had they proven successful, would 
have completely changed the histoiy of our State and had 
far-reaching effects upon the government of the United 
States. In the gTeat contest for President of the United 
States in 1801, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received 
an equal number of votes, and the question of who' should be 
President was decided by a vote of Congress, Through the 
influence of Alexander Hamilton, Burr was defeated; Jef- 
ferson was elected President and Burr Vice-President. De- 
terjnining to be revenged on Hanulton, Burr challenged 
him to a duel. Hamilton tried to avoid the challenge, but 
could not, and when they met he refused to fire and was 
shot and hilled by his cnem.y The people were very indig- 
nant against Burr and he fled the country. His revenge 
was not complete, however, so he formed the treasonable 
plan to raise a large military force, invade Mexico, conquer 
the Spaniards v/lio possessed the country, and induce the 
Southern States and the Western Territory to quit the 
Union and join him in forming a separate government, he 
himself to become Governor of the new empire. 



104 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Euit's effoi'ts to perfect this plan created excitemeint all 
over tlie country. ITe was aiTCsted and tried for treason, 
but the charges against him wore not proven and he was set 
at liberty. lie left the country for a time, but returned in 
a few years and died in ^ew York a very old and a very 
poor man. 

Does it not seem strange th'at slavery ever existed in In- 
diana? It is difficult to realize that in any part of our State 
huiiian beings were ever lielcl in bondage; yet some of the 
settlers at Yincennes were slave-owners, and for more than 
sixty years their right to bwn slaves was not questioned. 
During tlie time the French were in possession of the coun- 
try, wdiile it was still called Louisiana, the French king, 
Louis XY, authorized the settlers to bring slaves into the 
province. 

\Yhen Yirginia ceded the Territory to the United States, 
Congress passed an ordinance, or special law, for the gov- 
ernment of the Territory. This ordinance, which passed 
July 13, 1787, was one of the most remarkable ever Inade 
by Congress; indeed, few laws have been so important or so 
far-reaching in effect. Among other things, it declared thai 
slavery should never exist in 'the Northwestern Temtory. 
This law was not strictly enforced, 'however, and the slaves 
still remained the property of their masteire. Some of them 
contracted with their owners to remain with them for a 
number of years, after which the^^ should become free; oth- 
ers were remo^'ed to the weet side of the Mississippi River 
and to other slave-owning States. 

The people of the Territory were divided on the subject 
of slavery. Many of them were natives of siave-owning 
States, and were opposed to tlie ordinance which prohibited 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 105 

slavery in tlie Territory, and wei^e in favor of asking Con- 
gress to cliange the law, or at least to suspend it for a time 
and to allow tlieni to keep their slaves. 

The question became of such importance, and the people 
were so di\'ided in their opinions and feelings upon tJie sub- 
ject, that Governor Harrison, who himself favored the slave 
system, ordered an election to be lield in each county for 
•the purpose of choosing delegates to a convention, which he 
ordered to meet at the capital of the Territory, to consider 
the wisdom of asking Congress to suspend the ordinance. 
Twelve delegates were elected and they met at Yincennes, 
December 20, 1S02. Governor Tlarrisoai presided over the 
meeting. A document ^vas prepared asking the Congress of 
the United States to suspend the sixth article of the ordi- 
nance of IT ST, as it was called. This wrs signed by the 
Governor, the delegates to the convention and a number ol 
the citizens of the Territory; it was then laid before Con- 
gress. That body ref en-ed it to a committee to decide what 
action should be taken upon it. 

Tiie committee reported that in their opinion tlie labor of 
slaves was not needed to promote the growth of civilization 
in Indiana Territory. So Congress refused to suspend the 
law, and, altliough other petitions and resolutions were aft- 
erward sent, signed by legislative authority, and by many 
citizens of Indiana Territory, Congress refused to make any 
change in the law. 

Although the petitions asking that the slavery ordinance 
be suspended were signed by the Governor and many prom- 
inent people in the Territory, there was strong opposition to 
it, and other petitions asking Congress not to make slavery 
lawful in Indiana Territory were signed bv large numbers 



106 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

of citizens and also sent to Congress. The subject Avas a 
very important one and claimed tlie attention of all classes 
of people, who discussed it on all occasions. Although Gov- 
ernor Harrison favored slavery, he was not Avilliag to see 
the law violated, and when he learned that a number of col- 
ored ]jeople were about to be removed from the Territory 
and sold as slaves, he interfered and called upon the author- 
ities to prevent their removal and sale. 

The question of organizing a General Assembly, or Leg- 
islature, was at this time much discussed by the settlers. 
Since the Indiana Territory had been orgaidzed the Gov- 
ernor, Secretary and judges had made the laws iiid man- 
aged the affairs of the Territory. The people became dissat- 
isfied that so much power should be given to a few pert^ons 
and so little 'to the citizens themselves, and so much was e^aid 
about it that on September 11, 1804, a vote, was taken to 
ascertain the wishes 'of a majority of the residents. Tlie re- 
sult of this vote showed that the majority of the land-own- 
ers, or ''free-]]olders,'' as they were called, was in favor of 
organizing a Territo'rial Legislature, to whiv?]i tlie people 
could elect representatives to assist in making the laws 
which were to govern their conduct. 

T'pon tills. Governor Harrison declared that ludiana Ter- 
ritory had reached that number in population which entitled 
the inhabitants to what is called a ''second grade govern- 
ment,''' and he ordered an election to be held on January 3, 
1 505, for the piu'pose of choosing the members of a House 
of Representatives, and called a meeting of the elected 
members for the first of February, at Yiacennes, to take 
feteps to organize a Territorial legislative council. 

According to the laws which govern ten-iiorics, the leg- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 107 

islative council, which corresponds to our State Senate, must 
be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate 
of the United States; but the representatives elected by the 
people of the Territory were given the right to nominate, 
or select, a number of men from wliom the President should 
make the appointments. 

On January 11th the United States Congress enacted 
a law to divide Indiana Territory, for the purpose of form- 
ing the Temtory of Michigan, and the following June 
Michigan was separated from Indiana. 

The members elected to the Territorial House of Repre- 
sentatives met at Yincennes, February 7, 1S05, and selected 
by ballot the names 'of ten residents of the Territory, which 
were sent to President Jefferson. From this list he was ex- 
pected to choose the members of the Legislative Council, 
but Mr. Jefferson, being unacqu-ainted with the men whose 
naraes were sent, returned tlie list to Governor Ilan'ison 
with the authority to appoint the council. This Mr. Harri- 
son did, although it wa« then believed that tlie President 
made the 'appointments. 

The first meeting of the representatives was foir the pur- 
pose of selecting a Legislative Council, 'oa* Senate, as we 
would now say; no other business could be transacted until 
this was done. On July 9, 1805, the council and represent- 
atives met at Yincennes, and the firsit Indiana Legi^laturo 
was organized. 

On the 13th Governor Harrison delivered his first mes- 
sage to the General Assembly. In this he recommended the 
passage of laws to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors to 
the Indians, to regulate or ostablisih a better system of cO'Urts 
for the administration of justice, to improve the militia, laws 



108 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

for the punishment of crime, and to provide means for rais- 
ing revenue. 

HaAdng entered upon the second grade of government, 
the peoj)le of Indiana Territory v/cre entitled to a delegate 
to Congress, and the Legislature elected Benjamin Parke to 
this position. Although this delegate was entitled to a seat 
in Congress and could take part in discussions and debates, 
he liad no vote in the proceedings of that body, but he could 
present the needs of tlie people of his Territory and was able 
to represent their interests. 

Before the Territorial Legislature was organized, the 
Governor and other officers of the TeiTitory were appointed 
by the President, with t]ie consent of the Senate of the 
United States, but now the people had the a-iglit to elect 
their representatives to the Legislature, and the laws were 
made by these representatives and the Legislative CounciL 
Both the Governor and Council were appointed by the 
President. This form of government continued in Indiana 
for seven years. 

When AVilliam Henry Harrison was made Governor of 
Indiana Territory, he was instructed by the United States 
Government to use his eiforts to promote peace and har- 
mony among the Indian tril^es, and if possible, to persuade 
them to abandon their manner of living, and to engage in 
farming and other civilized occupations. He was also au- 
thorized to purchase as much land of them as he could, and 
to extinguish their titles to the same. This Governor Har- 
rison attenjpted to do. He held a number of counciis with 
the diiferent Indian tribes, at Vinceames, Poi^t Wayne and 
other places, and succeeded in procuring from them about 
29,719,530 acres of land. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 109 

The first lands ceded to tlie United States by tlie Indians 
lav in the southern part of the State, along the Ohio Hiver; 
the next purchases lay north of these; so, step by step, the 
savages were pushed northward, as their lands became the 
property of the government. At the close of the year 1805, 
the United States had procured from these tribes about 
forty-six thousand square miles of territory. 

Althougii the people of Indiana Territory voted for the 
second grade government, it was found, like many other 
tilings, to have its disadvantages; in order to sustain the 
new government, and meet the necessary expense oi hold- 
ing a general assembly, paying officers' salaries, etc., it was 
necessary to tax the people. This caused much dissatisfac- 
tion, especially among the French settlers who had lived for 
many years free from taxes of any kind, and could see no 
use in beginning a custom eo disagreeable. They especially 
objected to the poll tax, and held a meeting at Yincennes, at 
which they resolved that they would in no way support the 
men who favored the second grade government. 

"^iany of the old laws which had been adopted by Gov- 
ernor St. Clair and the judges of the Xorthwestern Terri- 
tory, and some of those adopted by Governor Hanison and 
the judges of Indiana Territory, were revised and re-enacted 
by the Ten'itorial Legislature. One of these laws made the 
crimes of murder, treason, horse-stealing and arson, each 
punishable by death. Burglary and robbery were pun- 
ished by whipping, fine, and in -some cases imprisonment, 
lorgery was punishable by fine, disfranchisement, and 
standing in the pillory. Stealing was punished by fine, 
whipping, and in certain cases by being bound to labor for a 
certain time; hog-stealing, by fine and whipping; gambling 



110 YOtlNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and profane swearing and Sabbatli-breaking, by fine; 
bigamy, by fine, whipping, and disfranchisement. 

About the year 1806, it began to be felt that the Terri- 
tory of Indiana was too large to be maintained imder a 
single government. The people were so widely separated, 
and travel was so difiicult and dangerous and expensive, 
tliat it was hard for those who must travel long distances to 
attend court, either as witnesses or interested parties, while 
the great extent of country j^i'^vented the laws being en- 
forced in places remote from the seat of government. 

^Jliere was much discussion on this subject, and petitions 
and memorials were sent to Congress asking that Indiana 
Territoiw be divided. So, on the first day of March, 1809, 
a law was made dividing the Territory from north to south, 
by a line drawn from Vincennes to Canada, and by the 
Wabash River to the Ohio. All that country lying west of 
that- line and river, was called Illinois Territory, and that 
portion east remained Indiana Territory. The population 
of the Territory the year before this division, was about 
28,000; of these, 11,000 lived west of the AVabash. It is 
probable that about 20,000 people remained in Indiana 
Territory after it v^as divided. 

After the Territory was divided, it was found that thej-e 
was some Irregularity in the number of representatives to 
tiie Legislature in the several counties. So, the two houses 
of the general assembly requested Ihe Governor to dissolve 
the Legislature', and an election was held to select a delegate 
to Congress, at which Jonathan Jennings, who afterwards 
became the first Governor of the State of Indiana, was 
chosen. At this time tliere were but four organized coun- 
ties in the Territory — Ivnox, Harrison, Clark and Dearborn, 
in which but nine hundred and thirty votes were cast. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. Ill 

The Governor having dissolved the Legislature, it became 
necessary to elect new niembei^, and an election was held 
for this purj^ose. The next Legislature met Xovemher 12, 
IcjlO. Li his first message to this Legislature, Governor 
Han'ison strongly recommended that a system of popular 
education be established, and called attention to the danger- 
ous influence of the Shawnee warrior Tecumseh, and his 
brother, the Prophet. lie outlinecl his views on the Lidian 
question in the following language, which also gives us an 
idea of the condition of the country at that time: ^^ Al- 
though much has been done to extinguish the Indian titles 
in the Territory, much still remains to be done. We have 
not yet sufhcient space to form a tolerable State. The east- 
ern settlements are separated from the west by a consider- 
able extent of Indian lands, and the most fertile tracts that 
are in our territorial bounds are still their property. Al- 
most entirely divested of the game from which they 'had 
drawn their subsistence, it has become of little use to them, 
and it was the intention of the government to substitute, for 
the precarious and scanty supplies which the chase affords, 
the more certain support which is derived from agriculture, 
aud the rearing of domestic animals. By the considerate 
and sensible among them, this plan is considered as ilie only 
one v/hich will save them from utter extirpation. But a 
most formidable o]:)position has been raised to it by the war- 
riors, who will never agree to abandon their old habits, until 
driven to it by absolute necessity. As long as a deer is to be 
found in the forests, they will continue to hunt. It has, 
therefore, been supposed that confining them to narrow 
limits, was the only means of producing this highly desir- 
able 'change, and averting the destruction which seems to 



112 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

impond over tlieni. Are, tlien, those extinguish m en ts of 
native titles which are at once so beneficial to the Indians, 
the Territory and tlie United States, to be suspended on ac- 
count of a few individuals? Is one of the fairest portions 
of the globe to remain in a state of nature, the haunt of a 
few wretched savages, when it seems destined by the Creator 
to give support to a larger population, and to be the seat of 
civilization, of science and the true religion? ' 

Governor Harrison urged this Legislature to establish a 
school svstem, and advised that a military branch be added 
to it; that the boys and young men of the Terriccry be 
tau.cht mihtarv evolutions and tactics. At this tinie, the 
population of Indiana Territory had increased to 24,520. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Tecumseh and the Prophet — Battle of Tippecanoe. 

The affairs of the new Territory of Indiana ran along in 
this way, gradually shaping themselves into a perjuanent 
pnd well-defined government, and the inhabitants were 
gradually adapting themselves to the new order of things — 
building their cabins, clearing the ground for their farms 
and gardens, cultivating their fields, and conducting their 
trades, and with few exceptions, c^uite at peace with the 
Indians, until the year 1805. 

About this time the Indians complained to Governor 
Harrison that the white settlers were not keeping tlieir part 
of the agreement between the Indians and the United 
States, but were encroaching upon fhe land belonging to 




-*'■ Sat*rj~ >. S I IMff 1,'iJ* f>^'4^- 
~^ B* «- ^ V n s 4 - . J< --t^B- l^Sf -i-..-t----'^='* f ■ . ■■ 









i-' '//'i,;*' 



AN INDIAN COUNCIL SCENE. 



From EnglislL's 
'Conquest oj the Northwestern Territory." 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 1 13 

tLeiii; tliat they invaded their Imnting grounds, and \vitli 
little or no provocation, killed their people. They also 
complained that the white men were not punished for of- 
fenses committed against the savages, while the Indians re- 
ceived the full penalty of the law. In an address delivered 
hefore the Territorial Legislature, Governor Harrison re- 
ferred to these charges, and said, ^^I am sorry to say that 
their complaints are far from groundless," and he urged the 
liiembers of that assembly to lose no opportunity to encour- 
age the "impartial administration of justice." 

Early in the year 1805, a Shawnee warrior named Te- 
cumseli lived with liis brother, Law-le-was-i-kaw, or, "Loud 
Voice," in a Delaware village which stood on the west side 
of Wliite River in Delaware county. Tecumseh was very 
ambitious; he hated the whites, and allowed his ambition 
auL his hatred to control every other feeling. 

^Vbout this time his brother, Law-le-was-i-kaw, coiichided 
it would be a fine thing to assume the character of a pro])het. 
So he took the name of Pems-quat-a-wa, which in the Shaw- 
nee language means the "Open Door;" and he began to 
preach to the Indians who were about him ;against witch- 
craft, and the use of intoxicating liquors, or "fire water," as 
the Indians called it, and against the habits and dress of tho 
white people, against 'the practice of ^selling lands to the 
Ignited States, against the custom of Indian women maiTy- 
ing white men — all xcxy good subjects for the Indians to 
consider if he had stopped there; but he claimed that the 
Great Spirit had told him that those who practiced witch- 
craft and magic should be put to death, and that the power 
had been given him to discover such persons and 'expose 
them. 



114 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

He also claimed the power to cure disease, and to prevent 
death in sickness or in war. In short, he so eLXcited tlie 
enperstition and credulity of the Indians, that many of them 
believed in him, and one poor old Delaware chief, Tate-e- 
bocL:-o-she, wdio was at peace with the Americans, and who 
had influenced his tril)e to treat with them, was accused of 
witchcraft, was tried, condemned and tomahawked, and his 
body burned at an Indian village which stood on the site of 
YorLtown, in Delaware county. Tate-e-bock-o-she's wife 
ard nephew and another old Indian named Joshua, were 
also accused of witchcraft and condemned tO' die, but while 
in the council house, the brother of 'the woman suddenly 
appeared, and, taking her by the hand, led her away. The 
two men were buiTied at the stake. 

I,aw-le-was-i-kaw was so determined to maintain the char- 
acter of a pro]3het, that he accused those who opposed him 
of being witches, and had them put ito death. One old 
won] an thus accused, Avas slowly roasted over a fire for four 
day-'' before she was allowed to die. He succeeded in con- 
vincing some of the Indians of his power, by declaring that 
on a certain day and hour he would bring darkness upon the 
earth. In some way he had learned that an eclipse of the 
sun would occur at that time, and he craftily used his 
knowledge to play fupon the superstition of the savages. 
"When the eclipse actually took place, he triumphantly ex- 
claimed, ^'Did I not prophesy truly?" 

When Governor Harrison heard of these things, he wrote 
a speech to the Indians land sent it to the Delaware towns, 
warning them against the Prophet, and advising them to 
listen no more to his speeches about witchcraft, but to de" 
mand proof of his being the messenger of the Great Spirit. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 115 

After tMs, tke Prophet renjoved to Greenville, Ohio, ac- 
companied by liis brother, Tecumseli, and a small band of 
Indians. lie remained in that vicinity until the spring of 
1808, and succeeded in collecting a number of followers. 
The Indian agent at Greenville became suspicious of him, 
and the settlers in the vicinity were alarmed by his actions 
and lived in fear of him and his band. They wei'e greatly 
relieved when he left Greenville and removed to the Wa- 
bash, mear the mouth of Tippecanoe Hiver. Here he set- 
tled with his little band of about 140 Indians, and built a 
village, which v/as called ''The Prophet's Town." 

AVhile Law-le-was-i-kaw was winning fame and influence 
as a prophet among the Indians, his brother, Tecumseh, had 
not been idle. He formed the daring plan of uniting all 
the Indian tribes of the west and south into one great con- 
federacy, for the purpose of resisting the Americans and 
pre\ onting them from extending their settlements over the 
land belonging to them. He claimed that the treaties be- 
t\\ een the United States ^nd the Indians were not fairly 
made, and that no tribe had the right to sell the land with- 
out the consent of all the other tribes. 

Early in 1808, Governor Harrison prepared a speech 
which he sent b}^ John Conner, an 'agent of Indian affairs, 
to the chiefs and head men of the Shawnee tribes. In this 
speech he said: ^'Aly children, this business must be 
stopped. I will no longer suffer it. You have called a 
number of men from the most distant tribes, to listen to a 
fool, who speaks not the words of the Great Spirit, but those 
of the devil and the British agents. My children, your 
conduct has much alarmed the white settlers near you; they 
desire that you send those people away, and if they wish to 



116 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Lave the impostor with them, they can ean-y him. Let him 
go to the lakes; he can hear the British more distinctly." 

The Prophet was present when this speech was read, and 
sent la reply to the Governor by Mr. Conner, in wliich he 
said: ^'Father, I am sorry that you listen to the advice of 
bad birds. You have accused me of having corresponded 
witli the British, and Avith calling and sending for the In- 
dians from the most distant parts of the country, to listen to 
a 'fool' that speahs not the words of the Great Spirit, but 
the words of the devil. Father, those things I deny and 
say thev are not true. I never had a word with the British 
and I never sent for any Indians; they came themselves to 
listen and hear the words of the Great Spirit." 

Late in June of the same year, the Prophet sent a mes- 
sage to Governor Harrison assuring him that the Indians 
v\^lio had settled in the Prophet's Town wished to live in 
peace with the white people. The Indian who brought this 
message, in a conversation with the Governor, said: ^'I 
have listened to the words of the Prophet for upwards of 
three years, and have never heard liim give lamy but good 
advice. He tells us that we must pray- to the Great Spiiit 
who made the world and everything in it, for our use. He 
tells us that no man can make the trees, the plants and the 
animals, but that they must be made by the Great Spirit, to 
whom we ought to pray and obey in all things. He tells us 
not to lie, to steal, nor to drink whisky ; not to go to war, but 
to live in peace with all mankind. He tells us also to work 
and make corn." 

In August the Prophet himself oame to Yincennes, and 
had an interview with Governor Ilamson, and he tallvod so 
fairly, and so earnestly, that he succeeded in making the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY 0.^^ INDIANA. 117 

Governor think that peThaps. his intentions and tliose of 
Tecumseh were not so b^id as he had supposed, and that the 
reports he had received of their conduct had been exag- 
gerated, and that the Prophet's teachings were calculated to 
improve tlie moral condition of the savages; but scarcely 
had the Prophet returned to his home than he received such 
reports of the conduct of the Indians at the Propliet's Town, 
as convinced him that he had been deceived by the smooth 
speeches of the Prophet, and that both he and 'his brother 
were very dangerous persons, indeed; that they were not 
only forming a Confederacy among the Indians, bat that 
they received encouragement from the British agents in the 
north, and that in case of war between America and Great 
Britain, the Indians wooild become the fr'ends of the 
British. 

The following summer, the Prophet and about fifty of liis 
followers again visited Yincennes, and held several inter- 
views with the Governor. He denied any intention of or- 
ganizing the Indians for the i^ui^wse of attacking any of the 
frontier settlements, and said that he had declined an invita- 
tion from the British to engage in war against the United 
States, and that he had persuaded some of the tribes to cease 
their hostilities toward the Americans. But the Governor 
was not convinced of the Prophet's good intentions, and re- 
garded him as having /a very bad iniluence over the other 
Indians. He continued his efforts to secure by treaty as 
much Indian land as possible lying within the Indiana Ter- 
ritory. 

Tecumseh !and the Prophet tried to prevent the Indians 
from selling their land, and threatened to prevent that al- 
ready ceded from being surveyed. The settlers became 



118 YOUNG fEOPLK'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

greatly alarmed by tbe movememts lof the brothers ar.d their 
band, and the stories told of their conduct and their threat^^ 
prevented emigrants from forming other settlements in In- 
diana. 

During the feummer of 1810, the savages became very 
troublesome, stealing, plundering and in many ways annoy- 
ing the settlers. The Governor sent frequent messages to 
the Prophet's Town, and to the villages of the ^Afiamis, Dela- 
wares and Pottawattomies, by Francis Vigo and other influ- 
ential citizens of Yincennes, and assured them thnt the 
friendsiiip and protection of the United States should be 
givan them, and warned them that Tecumseh and the 
Prophet were dangerous leaders, and would surely bring 
them into trouble if they followed them. 

It is probable that at this time the Prophet's f()llower3 
nuLubered abont six hundred and fifty restless warriors. 
Through the influence of a number of Delawares who were 
fiiendly to the Americans, others were prevented from join- 
ing the Prophet and his band. The Indians at the Prophet's 
Town became more bold and offensive; the;s treated with 
rudeness the boatmen who were sent to deliver the annual 
supply of salt which the government furnished them; the 
Governor's messengers were 'accused of being spies, and 
Ihrcatened with death, although no actual ^dolence was done 
them. 

In August, 1810, Tecumseh visited Yincennes. Al- 
1 hough he had been requested to bring but few Tmliaiis with 
him, he was attended by four hundred warriors. They 
came down the Wabash in eighty canoes — all painted in a 
frightful manner and fully armed with tomahawks and war- 
clubs. The citizens of Yincennes were alarmed by the ap- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 119 

proacli 'of 00 many warlike savages, and tlie Governor and 
officials were annoyed that Tecnm&eh shonld bring so many 
Indians with him, for, as they were the guests of the town, 
food must be provided for them, and they must otherwise 
be enteirtained. The Indians camped near the town, and 
an'ana'ements were made for holding a council with Tecum- 

C , CD 

seh at the house of the Governor, on 'the morning of the 
15th. 

At the appointed hour the Governor, with the judges of 
the Supreme Court, some 'officers of the armv, a sergeant 
and twelve men from Fort Knox (three miles abo^'e Yin- 
ceunes) and a large number of citizens, awaited the coming 
of Tecumseh and his warriors, in the porch of the Gov- 
ernor's house, which had been furnished with seats for tHie 
occasion. 

Tecumseh approached within a short distance of the 
house and paused. He was a remarkably fine looking man, 
and doubtless looked very imposing in his war paint and 
feathers. An interpreter was sent to invite him and his 
warriors to iseats on the porch, but he declined the invita- 
tion, saying that it was not a suitable place, an.l pointing to 
a grove a short distance away, requested that the council be 
held there. The Governor replied that there were no seat's 
in the grove; but Tecumseh lanswered that that was no ob- 
jection — the earth Avas the proper seat for Indians. So the 
chairs and benches were removed to the grove, the Indians 
seating themselves uj)on the ground. 

Tecumseh opened the meeting by relating the wrongs of 
the Indians. His manner was haughty, and his speech was 
bold. He declared that the Americans had driven the In- 
dians from the sea coast and would soon push them into the 



120 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

lakes. He accused the whites of having killed some of the 
Indians and taking from them their lands. He declared 
that the land was sold, and the price received for it by a few 
Indians who had no right to dispose of it without the consent 
of all the tribes. lie insisted that the Indians had been de- 
frauded, and demanded that the land be restored to them. 
He said that it was not his intention to make v»'ar npon the 
United States, but that he was determined to resist further 
intrusion of the whites upon Indian lands. 

When he had finished, his speech was interpreted to the 
Governor, who replied to it and took his seat; and the inter- 
preter began to translate his speech to the Indians. Tecum- 
seh listened for a wliile, and then, springing to his feet, be- 
gan to speak in a defiant and violent manner. The Gov- 
ernor was surprised, but, not understanding the language, 
su})posed he was making some explanation. Just then liis 
attention was attracted by Winnemac, .a friendly Indian, 
who, lying on the grass before him, was loading his pistol, 
holding it so that the Governor could see it, but keeping it 
hid from the other Indians. 

Wliile watching Winnemac, the Govemor heard his sec- 
retary. General Gibson, say to an officer, "Those fellowg 
mean mischief; you had better bring up the guard." At 
the same moment the Indians seized tlieir tomahawks and 
war-clubs and sprang to their feet, keeping their eyes upon 
the Governor, who arose from his chair and drew a small 
sword which humg at his s-ide. Captain Floyd, who stood 
near him, also drew a dirk, and Winnemac cocked his pistol. 

It was a critical and dramatic situation. The citizens 
were in numbers greater than the Indians, but they were 
unarmed. They hastily provided themselves with stones. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 121 

and such other weapons as they could procure. V;y. Wi- 
nans, a minister of the gospel, who was present, ran to the 
Governor's house, snatched up a gun and stationed himself 
at the door to defend the family. 

jSTot a word was spoken during this scene, until the guard 
came running up and was in the act of firing, when the 
GoYemor ordered them to stop. lie then demanded to 
know the meaning of this strange occurrence. The inter- 
preter replied that Tecumseh had interrupted him while he 
was explaining the Governor's speech, by declaring that 
everything he said was false. 

Turning to Tecumseh, the Governor told him that he was 
a very had man — that he would put out the council fires, 
and have nothing more to do with him. The Indians re- 
turned to their camp and were carefully watched that night; 
the militia was re-enforced, and preparations were made for 
an attack, but none was made. 

The next morning, Tecumseh requested an interview with 
the Governor, that he might explain his actions of the day 
before, claiming that he had no intention of attacking him. 
The request was granted, and at the meeting Tecumseh was 
dignified and respectful. lie insisted that his claim to the 
land ceded to the Americans was a just one; that a purchase 
could not be made without the consent of all the tribes, and 
repeated his detennination to resist further settlements or 
surveys of the land. 

The Governor promised to state the claims of the Indians 
to the President of the United States, bu't gave it as his 
opinion that the government would not restore tiie land it 
had fairly purchased of the tribes who occupied it, and that 
the rights of the United States would be protected by the 
sword if it should become necessary. 



122 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The following day Goveiiior Harrison went to Tecum- 
seli's camp with only an interpreter to accompany liim. He 
was politely received, and lield a long interview witli Te- 
cuniseli, but with no better results. He again promised to 
make known to the President the views bf the warrior, but 
told him that it was not probable that his terms would be 
agreed to. Tecumseh replied: "Well, as the great chi©f 
is to determine the matter, I hope the Great Spirit will put 
sense enough into his head to induce him to give <ip this 
land. It is true he is so far off that he will not bo injured 
by the war; he may sit in his town and !drink his wine, 
whilst you and I will have to fight it 0U(t." 

At the close of this interview Governor Harrison sug- 
gested that in case there should actually be war between the 
United States and the Indians, he should use his influence 
to induce the savages to abandon their cruel treatment of 
women, children and prisoners. Tecumseh, who possessed 
some excelleni; traits of chaTacter, had from his youth been 
opposed to this savage cruelty, and agreed to this proposal. 

Soon after this, a small force of United States troops were 
sent from Newport, Kentucky, to Yincennes, under com- 
mand of Captain Cross, for the purpose of building a fort 
on the "Wabash. They were to be assisted in this by the 
^lilitia Infantrv and the Knox Countv Drasfoons, but for 
some reason, the fort was not built uintil the following year. 

The trouble caused by Tecumseh and the Prophet gTcw 
worse and worse. The Indians became more mischievous 
and aggressive. They were encouraged by the British 
agents in Canada, who believed that war was about to be de^- 
clared between the United States and Great Britain, and 
tried to win the friendship of the northwesteini tribes and 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 128 

cause trouble between them and the Americans. The In- 
dians destroyed the property of the whites, frightened a 
party of surveyors from their work, and a quantity of salt 
sent by the government to other tribes was seized by the 
Indians at the Prophet's Town. 

The settlers became desperate and a party oi white men 
killed an Indian, and wounded two others. The Governor 
continued his efforts to break up the confederacy at the 
Prophet's Town, and sent speeches to the leaders, >varning 
them that the Indians were seeking 'their own destruction, 
and that their conduct could no longer be tolerated. He 
began preparations for building a fort on the AYabash for 
the protection of the settlers. 

One day in July, 1811, great excitement and alarm was 
caused among the residents of Yincennes by the arrival of 
about three hundred Indian warriors .and twenty or thirty 
women and children. It was Tecumseh and his army come 
to interview the Governor. Tie w^as met by Captain Wil- 
son, before he reached the town, and told that the Governor 
was displeased with him for bringing so many Indians with 
him. Tecumseh replied tbat he only brought twenty-four 
men; that the others came of their own accord. 

Governor Harrison made preparation for them by review- 
ing the militia, and stationing companies on the borders of 
ihe town. If the Indians intended to make an attack, they 
changed their minds upon seeing the strength of the troops, 
wliicli were composed of about seven hundred and fifty men, 
and Tecumseh assured the Governor that he had no inten- 
tion of making war upon the Americans, and promised that 
the settlers should not be further molested by the Indians. 
He did not remain long at Yincennes, but, taking about 
twenty warriors with him, journeyed southward. 



124 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The people were so alarmed by the movements of the 
savages, that they held a public meeting at Yincennes, and 
prepared resolutions declaring that the inhabitants of In- 
diana TerritO'iy were exposed to 'great danger from the In- 
dians at the Prophet's Town, and requesting tJie President 
of the United States to ordei' them to disperse, or to take 
steps to cause them to leave that locality. 

A few days before this, however, President Madison had 
instructed the Secretary of AVar to authorize Governor Har- 
rison to call oiit the militia of the Territory, and in case it 
should become necessary, or advisable, to attack the Prophet 
and his followers, and if needed, to call into service certain 
United States troops. At the same time, the President 
urged that peaceful relations be preserved with the J ndians, 
so long as the safety of the settlers and the rights of the 
government of the United States would allow. 

Governor Harrison believed that the time had come when 
the hostile band at the Prophet's Towm should be broken up, 
and he ordered a military expedition to move up the Wa- 
bash Piver and erect a fort. When the troops were about 
ready to move, a party of Indians from the Prophet's Town 
ai'rived, and made strong professions of peace and friend- 
ship. The army started, however, on September 2C, 1811, 
and camped above the old Wea village wdiere the city of 
Terre Haute now stands. 

There is an old Indian tradition that lat this place a des- 
perate battle was once fouight between the Illinois Indians 
and the Iroquois confederacy. On account of this, the 
early French settlers called it '^Bataille des Illinois." Here 
Governor Harrison put the troops to building a fort, which, 
when comideted, was named Port Ilamson. While the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 125 

men were at work on the fort, some friendly tribes of Dela- 
wares and Miamis told tliem that the Prophet had sent a war 
speech to some of the Delaware chiefs, and declared that 
the "tomahawk was up against the whites," and would not 
be taken down until the wrongs of the Indians had been 
made ri^fht. Thev also said that some of the Delaware 
chiefs had tried to persuade the Prophet to abandon his 
purpose, but he would not listen to them. 

While the troops were camped here, a sentinel was 
wounded by a small party of Shawnees, who were prowling 
about. Soldiers were at once sent against them, but they 
made their escape. The Governor sent four ^^Eiami Indians 
with a message to certain men who were at the Prophet's 
Town, to return to their own tribes. He also sent a message 
to the Prophet demanding that he return to their owners 
the stolen horses in his possession, and that he deliver up the 
murderers of white settlers, w^hom he wais protecting. The 
Indians never returned, and no attention was given to the 
message. 

Fort Harrison was finished on October 28th, and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Miller, with a small force of men, was left 
to guard it, while the remainder of the troops moved on 
toward the Prophet's Town. On the last day of the month, 
thev crossed the Wabash River near the present town of 
Montezuma, in Parke county, and three days later they en- 
camped on the western bank of the river, two miles below 
the Big Vermillion River, and built a block-house a mile 
below their camping place. They stationed an officer and 
eight men to guard this point, and to protect the boats 
which were used to bring supplies to the soldiers. 

The next day the army continued its inarch. The force 



126 YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

amounted to about 910 men, and consisted of 250 regular 
troops under Colonel Boyd, about 60 volunteers from Ken- 
tucky, and 600 citizens of Indiana Territory. About 270 
men were on horse-back, the remainder were on foot. 

On the 6th of I^ovember they came in sight of the 
Prophet's Town. All that day parties of Indians had been 
seen prowling about. Several times the interpreters had 
tried to talk with them, but they would say nothing. When 
about a mile and a half from the town, the army halted, and 
Governor Harrison sent the captain of the guides and spies, 
with an interpreter, to request an interview with tlie 
Prophet. They started on this errand, .and tried to talk 
with several Indians, but they made no reply, and seemed 
to be trying to cut tliem off from the main army. 

The officers seeing this, and fearing for their safety, or- 
dered them to return, and the entire army, ^^in order of 
battle," marched toward the town. The interpreters were 
placed in front, to request a conference with the Prophet. 
They had not gone far when they were met by 'three In- 
dians, who requested to speak with Gover?ior Harrison. 
One of them, who w^as a man of influence with the Prophet, 
expressed surprise that the Americans should so soon ad- 
vance upon them, as they had been informed by messengers 
that the Governor would wait until he received a reply to 
his demands, and that the answer had been sent two 'days 
before, but that the messengers had taken the (.-pposite road 
from that of the army, which had taken the western side of 
the ^V^abosh Piver. 

Governor Harrison replied that he would not attack the 
town until he had an answer from the Indians; that he 
would go into camp and have an interview with the Prophet 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 127 

and his chiefs the next morning. They continued their 
march and were soon met by a party of fifty or sixty Tn- 
dianSj who commanded them to halt. Advancing to the 
front, Governor Harrison halted the army and sent an in- 
terpreter to request the chief men to come to him. 

The same men came who had met him before. They 
Avere told by the Governor that he was seeking for a place 
to camp, where he could have good water, etc. The In- 
dians directed him to a location which they said would 
doubtless please him. Two officers w^ere sent to examine 
the spot, Avho reported the situation to be excellent. He 
then took leave of the Indians, each promising that hostili- 
ties should not begin until a council wais held the next day. 

The spot selected for a camping place was not well 
chosen. It v/as a high piece of ground covered with trees, 
with marshy prairies both in front and rear, through which 
ran small streams whose banks were thickly lined with wil- 
lows and other brushwood. 

That night the troops were kept in military position, 
which is called ''lying on their arms;" that is, they slept 
Avitli their clothes on and with fixed bayonets, and 'encamped 
in ''order of battle," so that each corps formed the outer line 
of the camp, and Avas instructed to hold the gronnd in case 
there should be an attack. The regular troops lay in their 
tents with their arms lat their sides. The militia had no 
tents, and slept with their guns under them to keep them 
dry. 

Although the ^army was placed at the very best advan- 
tage, and the officers knew the treacherous character of the 
savages, it seems that they did not expect an attack before 
morning. The night was dark and cloudy, and it rained 



128 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

after midnigiit. At four o'clock the Governor arose and 
prepared to call up tlie troo].>s. He was drawing on liis 
boots l)y the fire, and talking to some officers; a few minutes 
longer and the entire army would have been awake. Just 
at this moment, the left of the army was so suddenly at- 
tacked that the savages were in the camp be/ore many of 
the men could get out of their tents. 

The whole army was on its feet in an instant; the camp- 
firea were extinguished; the Governor mounted his horse 
and rode to the front of the attack. So quickly did they 
act, that in a few minutes the entire army was ready for 
battle. The Indians gave their terrible war-whoop and 
came on, making ten-ific noises — rattling the hoofs of deer 
and yelling at the top of their voices. The baUle was furi- 
ous, and lasted until daylight, when a strong charge was 
made by the American troops, which drove the Indians into 
the swamps, and ended the fight. 

The Americans conducted themselves with, remarkable 
bravery. Many of them had never been in battle before, 
but it was said tliat they "behaved like veteran^," while the 
oflicers won distinction by their bravery and valor. The re- 
sult of the battle was .the complete defeat of the Indians, 
and the breaking up of the Prophet's Town ai-.d of tlie In- 
dian settlements on the Wabash. The infiaence of tlie 
Prophet over the Indians was completely destroyed, and the 
designs of Tecumseli were defeated. 

The loss to the Americans was 37 killed in battle and 151 
wounded, 25 of whom afterward died of their wounds. A 
number of officers were killed or mortally wounded. A 
ball passed through the stock worn by the Governor, slightly 
burning his neck, another struck his saddle and, glancing, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 129 

hit his thigh, while a third wounded his hoi-se. The exact 
number of Indians engaged in this battle and the loss in 
killed and wounded, has never been known. The reports 
given of the number in battle vary from 350 to 1,000; the 
number was probably between 800 and 1,000. 

During the battle, the Prophet stood on a higli piece of 
ground and encouraged his warriors by singing a war song, 
and telling them that the victor)^ would surely be theirs, for 
the bullets of the enemy could not harm them ; and when he 
was told that some of the Indians Jiad been killed, he re- 
plied that the warriors must light on, and they would soon 
be victorious. 

The Indians whom the Prophet had gathered about him, 
lost faith in him after this battle. They called him a liar; 
and some of them bound him and threatened to put him to 
death; and almost aU of them returned to their tiibes, and 
the impostor was left alone. His town was completely de- 
stro}'ed, and he went with a small 'band of AYyandottes to 
the banks of Wild Cat Creek, northeast of LaFiiyette, in 
Tippecanoe County. 

The battle of Tippecanoe, as it Avas called,, took place 
wdiiie Tecumseh was in the south, whither he had gone to 
try to persuade tho' soutliern tribes to join him against tlie 
whites. It is said that when he returned he was very an^rv 
Avith his brother, the Prophet, for attacking the Americaus, 
for by this defeat of the Indians, he lost all hope of forming 
a confederacy of the northwestern tribes. 

The battle of Tippecanoe occurred XoveiLber 7, 1811. 
Having completely routed the savages, the American troops 
renu^ined long enough to bury ithe dead and care for the 
wounded, and then started on their return journey, reach- 

9 



130 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

ing Fort Harrison the llth, having been absent but little 
more than two weeks. Here the Avoimded were placed in 
boats 'and sent to Yinccnnesi, and -the army continued its 
march, leaving a company of regulars, undeir Captain 
Smelling, in charge .of the fort. They reached Vincennea 
November 18th. . 

So ended the memorable battle of Tippecanoe, and so 
were destroyed the deep-laid plans of Tecuifiseh and the 
Prophet. Tecumseh joined the British in Canada and 
fought against the Amerioans in the war of IS 12, and waa 
killed at the battle of the Thames, in 1813. 



CHAPTER XII. 
The War of 1812— Suffering of the Settlers. 

It was with feelings of great relief that the settlers in 
Indiana Territory learned the result of the campaign against 
Tecumseh and the Prophet. They were not allowed to en- 
joy their security very long, however, for early the follow- 
ing year it became known that some of the Indian tribes 
were not disposed to remain at peace with the Americans 
any longer, and in April, there was great alarm throughout 
the Territory, caused by the report that several whit(3 people 
had been killed by the Indians in the vicinity ^of the Wa- 
bash. Governor Harrison at once ordered the militia force 
to prepare for active service; block-houses 'ind picketed 
forts were built in all the principal settlements that were in 
any Avay exposed to danger. , 

At this time, the United States was at w^^r with Gre^t 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 131 

Britain concerning American commerce, and the riglit o£ 
''impressment;" and the British agents in Canada who 
sought the friends'hip and assistance of the Indians, weie 
the cause of many of these outbreaks. Some of thf^ bribes 
were the friends of the United States, but large numbers 
became the allies of the British. 

Early in January, 1812, the Miami chief, Little Turtle, 
sent a message to Governor Harrison, assuring him that in 
case of war 'between the Americans and Briti^^h, tiiat the 
Miami and Eel River tribes would continue the friends .ol 
the Americans. 

When it became known to the Indians that there would 
indeed be war, they held a great council, at which the most 
of the northwestern tribes were represented. The majority 
of these tribes were in favor of remaining at peace with the 
United States. Tecumseh, who was present, was not satis- 
fied with the proceedings of the council, nor with the peace- 
ful intentions shown by the Indians, and soon after joined 
the British forces in Canada. 

England and Trance were at war with 6ach other. Ei^r 
the purpose of injuring her enemy, England interfered with 
the trade between Trance and other nation^. ]^a|'oleon, 
who was emperor of Trance, in order to get even, interfered 
with England's trade with other nations. Thoy surrounded 
each other's ports Avitli war vessels to prevent foreign shipi 
from going in or coming out. 

In May, 1806, England proclaimed that the entire coast 
of France was blockaded. The American seamen did not 
know this, for there were no telegraphic cables, as there are 
now, and many vessels belonging to them were captured as 
prizes by the English. In fact, the harbor b of France were 



132 YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

not blockaded at all; tliey were only declared to be so. Then 
Bonaparte declared that the English po>rts were blockaded, 
and the American merchantmen w^ere seized by the Irench. 

Then the English prohibited the Erench coasting trade, 
and the French prohibited the English coasting trade; and 
so they went on quarreling with each other, and all the 
while the Americans weire the greatest sufferers. If her 
ships sailed to or from any British port, they were liable to 
be captured by the French; if they sailed to or from any 
other than British ports, they were sure to be made the 
prizes of the English. 

But Great Britain did not stop at this. Under the claim 
that anyone born in England remains a British subject for 
life, English cruisers were authorized to search American 
vessels, and to ''impress" intO' 'the Britisih navy all persons 
''suspected" of being subjects of Great Britain. 

Xov/, as a matter of truth, many Englishmen had immi- 
grated to this country and become citizens of the United 
States. Some of these were seamen, and it was easy to 
"suf-pect" native Americans for English subjects, and many 
Americans, as w^ell as Englishmen, wea^e captured and com- 
pelled and serve the enemies of their country. 

An American frigate named the "Chesapeake" sailed out 
of the Chesapeake Bay, and was hailed by the "Leopard," a 
British man-of-war, who demanded to search the Chesa- 
peake for deserters. This the commander of the Chesa- 
peake refused to allow, and the Leopard fired upon the ship 
and compelled her to suiTender. Four men were suspected 
and taken from the captured vessel. Three of them were 
Amea-icans; the fourth was an actual deserter, and was tried 
and hanged. 



VOIJNG PEOPLE'S HistORYOF INDIANA. 133 

The British governmeint professed to disapprove of this 
outrage, and promised to make amends, but it never ful- 
filled the promise. This was more than the Americans 
could bear, and Thomas elefferson, then President of the 
United States, issued a proclamation forbidding English 
war ships to enter the United States harbors; but still Eng- 
land made no amends for her insults. Then Congress 
passed a law detaining all American vessels in the United 
Stiates ports, hoping that by cutting off all trade with France 
and England, they might compel them to recognize Amer- 
ican rights. This was called the ^^Embargo Act." 

Then England issued an order proliibiting all trade with 
France, and Xapoleon, determining to keep even, forbade 
all commerce with England. So between these two na- 
tions, American commerce was completely ruined. Then 
came a change of Presidents. James Madison succeeded 
Jefferson in 1809. The act proliibiting ships from leaving 
the United States harbors was repealed, and Ameiican ships 
were allowed to sail for other ports, but were forbidden to 
trade with England. ISTapoleon then authorized his sea- 
men to capture all American vessels approaching France, 
but soon recalled the order. England, however, continued 
her hostilities, and ships still hovered around American 
ports to -enforce her orders. Tliis was the condition of af- 
fairs when Tecumseh and the Prophet were causing so much 
trouble in Indiana Territory. 

More tlian six thousand American citizens had already 
been captured and impressed into the British navy, and it 
was no longer to be hoped that war could be avoided. So, 
on June 4, 1812, the United States de<!lared war against 
Great Britain. It at once became necessary to protect the 



134 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

northwestern frontier from tlie attacks of the Indians, many 
of whom, as we have seen, were the allies of the British; so 
a large force of men was raised and placed under the com- 
mand of General William Hull, of Michigan Territory, wdio 
was authorized to invade and conquer Canada, if circum- 
stances were favorable to such a course. 

He began his march toward Detroit on June 1st. Heach- 
ing the ^[aumee River, he placed his stores and official 
papers in a boat, and sent them to Detroit^ while his army 
continued its hard march through two hundred miles of 
forest. He reached Detroit early in July, where the dis- 
couraging news awaited him tliat his boats had been cap- 
tured and all his supplies and papers were in the liands of 
the enemy. He crossed tlie river to capture Maiden, but 
learning that the American fort at Mackinaw ].ad been cap- 
tured by the British, he returned to Detroit. 

General Brock, who was Governor of Upper Canada, was 
in charge of the British forces at Maiden. Here he was 
joined by Tecumseh, and on August 16th, with their forces 
of 1,300 British and Indians, they together crossed the river 
and advanced upon Detroit, which General Hull still held 
with a force of over 2,300 men. 

I he American troops were ready for battle, l)ut when the 
British were within a few hundred yards. General Hull 
hoisted the white flag, and the entire force became prisoners, 
and the Territory of Michigan was surrendered to tbe Brit- 
ish. This act of General Hull was considered cowardly, 
and tlie entire country felt disgraced and humiliated. Hull 
was brought before a court-martial, charged with cowardice 
and treason, and was sentenced to be shot, but was afterward 
pardoned by President Madison on the ground that he had 
served his country well in the war of the Revolution. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 1S5 

Jubt before the surrender of Detroit, tlie TndiaiiS were 
giving trouble to the settlers in the territory about Fort 
Dearborn, at the present tsite of Chicago Learning that 
an attack was soon to be made on the fort itself,- Captain 
A\^ells, of Fort AVayne, in company with a party of friendly 
]\riami Indians, went to warn the troops of their dimger, 
and escort them from the fort. They reached Fort Dear- 
born August 13th, and the garrison offered to surrender 
the fort to the Indians on condition that they b ^ aP-.-wed to 
retire unmolested. The Indians agreed to thi^, but after 
the soldiers had gone about a mile and a half from the forfc. 
they treacherously attacked them, killed twenty-six of the 
regular troops, all of the militia, murdered two wom.en and 
twelve children, and took twenty-eight prisoners. Captain 
Wells and about fifteen Indians were among the killed. 
These victories of the British, combined with other reason?, 
caused other Indian tribes to take up arms against tlie 
Americans, and war parties were sent to attack the settle- 
ments in Indiana TeiTitory. 

Soon after receiving official notice of the Avar between the 
United States and Great Britain, Governor Harrison went 
to Kentucky for the purpose of procuring volunteers to as- 
sist in defending the settlers in Indiana and Illinois Terri- 
tories. Kentucky being on the east side of the Ohio Kivei', 
and outside the teiTitory claimed by the Indians, was free 
from the invasion of the savages, but she generously re- 
sponded to the call to help her suffering neighbors, and free- 
ly offered her sons for the defense of the State of Chio and 
the Territories of Indiana, Illinois and Michig:in. 

In September, large parties of Indians began to gather at 
Fort Wayne, and the same month a party of warriors tried 



136 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

to capture Fort Harrison. Other bands invaded tlic conntrv 
as far southeast as Clark and Jefferson Counties. Two men 
who were w^orking in a field near Fort Ilai'rison were killed 
and scalped, and the next night a body of several hundred 
Indians attacked the fort and set fire to one of the block- 
houses. Captain Zachary Taylor, who afterward became 
President of the United States, was in command of the fort. 
The most of his men were ill, or were recovering from ill- 
ness, and not more than fifteen of them were able for serv- 
ice, but they resisted the attack as best they could. 

It was a terrible situation, and it required great bravery 
to face it. The burning block-house joined the barracks, 
and when the men saw the bursting flames they gave them- 
selves up for lost. To make the situation more trying, a 
number of w^oman and children had taken rof uge in the 
fort, and their cries, mingled with the raging of the flames 
and the yelling of the savages, made a scene mo?t terrible. 
i\ othing but the bravery and presence of mind of Captain 
Taylor saved them. Under his direction the fire was extin- 
guished and temporarj^ breastworks raised where the burned 
building had stood, and they were enabled to hold the fort 
until morning when the Indians withdrew. As soon as was 
possible, a force was sent after them, but they made their es- 
cape. 

That same month a party of soldiers who were escorting 
prisoners from Yincennes to Fort Harrison, were attacked 
at a place called ^'The ^N^arrows" in Sullivan Countj-. The 
prisoners were captured by the Indians and seven of the sol- 
diers were killed or wounded. 

Some time previous to this, a few families had formed a 
settlement in wdiat is now Scott County. This was called 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 137 

"The Pigeon Roost Settlement," and was separated from 
tlie nearest settlement by five or six miles. One flay two 
men were in the woods hunting about two miles from the 
settlement, when they were attacked and killed by Indians; 
about simset, the same party attacked Pigeon Roost Settle- 
ment, and within an hour killed one man, five wo^nen and 
sixteen children. They then set fire to the cabins, burning 
some of the bodies in the flames which desitroyed the'ir 
homes. One woman, two men and five children escaped. 

The massacre caused great excitement and alarm among 
the settlers. A company of militia from Clark County was 
sent to the scene of the traged}-, who buried the remains^ lof 
the unfortunate victims, and the next day about 150 mount- 
ed riflemen followed the trail of the Indians, but did not 
overtake them. 

After this the settlers on the frontiers of Clark, Jefferson, 
Harrison and Knox counties lived in a constant Ertate of 
dread and alarm until the close of the war in 1815. 

To protect themselves against the attacks of the Indians, 
the people in almost every settement built a fort, or stock- 
ade, where they could gather for mutual protection and 
safety These stockades^, or foi-ts, were made of split limber, 
twelve or fourteen feet long, planted firmly in the ground, 
stajiding close tog^ether, and inclosing as much space as 
needed. They were entered by large gates made of hewn 
limber from three to six inches thick, so that bullets could 
not penetrate them. Inside these inclosures, smaP cabins 
were built for the families, and usually a block4iou.9e was 
built for further protection. 

Tlie block-houses were built of logs and male Very 
strong. They were two stories high, the upper story pro- 



188 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

jecting two or more feet over the lower. Tliere were port- 
holes ijiade in the floor of the projection, so that the men 
could see and shoot the Indians if they got inside the stock- 
ade and near tlie block-house. There were also port-holes 
in tlie walls of each story, through which they could shoot 
if the Indians should attack from either side. AVlien the 
settlers dared leave the fort, they worked together, first on 
the land of one, then another; a part of them watching as 
sentinels, to guard the others while they worked. 

Mr. Zebulum Collins, who lived six miles from Pigeon 
Iloost Settlement, speaking of those times of suspense and 
danger, said : ^^The manner in which I used to work was as 
follows: on all occasions I jcarried my rifle, tomahawk and 
butcher knife, with a loaded pistol in my belt; when I went 
to plough I laid my gun on the ploughed ground, and stuck 
up a stick by it, so that I could get it quick in case it was 
wanted. I had two good dogs; I took one into the house, 
leaving the other out. Tlie one outside was expected to give 
the alarm, which would cause the one inside to bark, by 
which I w^ould be wakened, having my arms always load- 
ed. I kept my horse in a stable close to the house^ having 
a port-hole, so that I could shoot to the stable door. Dur- 
ing two years I never went from home with any certamty of 
returning, not knowing the minute I would receive a ball 
from an unknown hand; but in the midst of all these dan- 
gers, that God who never sleeps or slumbers has kept me." 

Those who have never been in real danger can have but 
little idea of the fear and anxiety which the fathers ancf 
mothers suffered during those pioneer days. We who close 
our eves at nic-ht with a perfect faith that nothinfir will dis- 
turb our slumbers until morning cannot appreciate the feel- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 189 

ings of those who never laid down to rest without the fear 
that before the dawn they might be awakened by the. flames 
of their burning homes, or tlie cries of their murdered chil- 
dren. To the suffering of those brave pioneer men and 
women we owe the peace and prosperity we now enjoy. 
They paved the way in which our feet now tread. 

During the year 1813 the Indians did not attack the gar- 
risoned forts and block-houses in Indiana, but the unpro- 
tected settlements were often visited by small bands, and a 
number of people were killed. Several expeditions were 
made to the Delaware towns, on the White and the Missis- 
sinewa rivers. It was very diflicult for the mounted troops 
to travel through the country on account of the density ol 
the forest, fallen trees, and swollen rivers; but at last the In- 
dians were overpowered and the settlers allowed to live in 
peace. 

Governor Harrison, who had been appointed llajor-Gen- 
eral of the Kentucky militia, and had commanded all the 
troops raised in that State for the defense of the north- 
western frontier, arrived at Fort Wayne September 12th, 
1812, with about 2,700 men. At the approach of tlie army, 
the Indians Avho had gathered in this vicinity, and had in- 
fested the fort, burned a few houses and retired. Detach- 
ments of troops were sent after them foir several i»iiles over 
the country about Fort Wayne, but no Indians were to be 
found. The soldiers, however, destroyed a immber of their 
deserted villages and cornfields. 

There were at this time about 2,000 mounted volunteei^ 
at Yincennes, under command of General Samuel Hop- 
kins. Expeditions were also sent from this poiut and a num- 
ber of fields and villages were destroyed. Early the follow- 



140 Young People's history of iNDiAiJA.. 

ing year GeneiMl Harrison resigned liis command at Fort 
Wayne, to receive the appointment under the President of 
the United States of commander of the army of the North- 
west, and General James Winchester was placed in com- 
mand of the troops ait Fort Wayne. 

When General Harrison asBiimed command of the North- 
Avestern Army, he was instructed hy the Secretary of War 
to "provide for the safety of the whole northern frontier, 
and to retake Deti'oit with a view to the conquest of Upper 
Canada, and to penetrate that country as far as possible.'' 

You will notice that the first duty given him was to pro- 
tect the frontier settlements from the attacks of the Indians, 
and liis first effort was to collect a large force of soldiers and 
establish a large supply of provisions and military stores 
at the rapids of the Manmee Tlivor. But he f v^und this no 
easy task. Roads must be opened through the pathless for- 
ests and swamps before the artillery wagons containing the 
supplies could be moved, and forts musit be built, and stores 
of ]^rovisions established at suitable places through the 
country. Winter was drawing near and the men were in 
need of clothing, blankets, arms and ammunit'on; as the 
cold weatheir came on they suffcTed very greatly, and ©o 
mainy of them died from sickness and exposure, and so many 
others were ill, that the army was reduced from 10,000 to 
less than 6,000 men able for duty. 

The Miami Indians at first declared that they v.'ould take 
no part in the war, but it was not in Indian naltire to re- 
main long neutral when others were fighting, and some of 
the tribes assisted in besieging Fort AVayne and attacking 
Fort Ilamson, and one or two of them took part in the 
Pigeon Roost massacre, and they refused to be present at a 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 141 

council whicli the Americans called at Piqua. Oliio, all of 
which went to show that they were friendly to the Jiritish. 
The reason of this may have been that they believed that 
Great Britain would conquer in this war; for the Indians 
were very apt to take sides with the strongest party, and 
paid but little attention to the right oir wrong of a dispute. 

To stop the hostile acts of these Indians, a force of about 
600 men was sent against them; several of their villages 
which stood on the Mississinewa River in Miami County, 
were destroyed, a number of warriors were killed, and forty- 
two prisoners taken. 

The Delaware tribes, whose villages in Indiana were on 
White liiveir, took no part in this war. By the advice of 
the Americans, they abandoned their towns iand moved to 
Ohio, soon after the battle of ^lississinewa, accompanied by 
a small band of Miamis, where they placed themselves un- 
der the protection of the United States. The Prophet, with 
the principal chiefs of the Miamis and their miserable and 
destitute band, joined the British at Detroit. 

At the approach of General Harrison and his force of 
men, in September, 1813, the British surrendered Detroit, 
and at Maiden, where the battle of tlie Thames occurred 
October 5th, the Americans, led by General Harrison and 
General Shelby (then Governor of Kentucky), v/on a com- 
plete victory over the British. 

At this battle Tecumseh was killed, the Indian confeder- 
acv destroyed and Michigan regained. The Indian tribes in 
the vicinity of Detroit, finding themselves deserted by the 
British, began to sue for peace with the United States, and 
the settlei*s were for a time left in safety. 

There is but little more to tell about the Indians. On 



142 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

October 3, 1818, a ti-eaty was made at St. Mary's, Ohio, be- 
tween tbe United States and the Delaware Indians, By this 
treaty the Indians sold to the Ijnit€d States all their lands 
in Central Indiana, south and wetst of the Miami Iieserva- 
iion and. south and east of the AVabash River. The United 
States agreed to pay the Indians $4,000 annually, and to 
provide permanent homes for them west of the Mississippi 
River: the Indians, however, were given the right to retain 
the land for three years. According tO' this agreement, in 
the spring of 1821, the Indians in Central Indiana left for 
their western homes. 

The final removal of the Indian tribes occupying the 
Miami Reservation, or the country north of the Wabash, 
was eHected by General John Tipton in 1838. In 1823, 
General Tipton was appointed agent for the Potitawattomie 
and Miami tribes in Northern Indiana, land was instru- 
mental in securing from them valuable lands for public set- 
tlement. 

In the spring of 1825, a crime of dreadful 'cruelty was 
committed against some Indians near Pendleton, in Madison 
County, Indiana — a crime of such grave importance that 
the ^National Government interfered with the criminal^. 
The eastern portion of the State was thinly settled and 
abounded in game^, and a peaceful band of Seneca Indians, 
who lived on a reserA^ation in Ohio, came into the State to 
hunt and trap. Two Indian men named Ludlow and Mingo, 
Avho belonged to this band, with three women and four chil- 
dren, camped not far from Pendleton duiing the winter, 
and collected a valuable stock of furs. 

One day they were all seated around their camp-fire, 
Avhen five white men — Thomas Harper, Andrew Sawyer, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 143 

Jair.-es Hudson, John Bridges and liis son^ John Bridges, 
Jr., came to them and told them that they A\^ere hunting for 
stray horses, and asked them to help find them. The In- 
dians suspected no harm and readily consented. They di- 
vided into two companies and started through ihe forest, the 
Indians leading the way. They had not gone far when 
Harper, who was walking behind Ludlow, shot and killed 
hin'. Hudson, hearing the report of the gun, fi ued and 
killed Mingo. The murderers then returned to the camp 
and shot the women and childi*en and robbed the camp. 
Harper escaped and was never heard of, but it was believed 
that the other Indians in the vicinity killed him. The other 
four men were arrested, heavily ironed, and put in a log 
cabin at Pendleton, where they were guarded day and night. 

Tlie other Indians who were hunting in that region, and 
the ]\Iiamis who lived in the AVabash country, were veiy an- 
gr>' and excited, and the settlers who lived alomr': White 
Ri^er were greatly alairmed lest there should be an attack 
made upon them. 

John Johnson, of Ohio, was agent for the Senecas; "Wil- 
liam Conner, who lived near Xoblesville, in Ilainilton 
County, was agent for the Miamis. As soon as these men 
heard of the crime they went to the scene of the ]nurder 
and managed to quiet the Indians by promising tliat the 
guilty men should be punished. They lat 'once sent an ac- 
count of the murder to the authorities at Washington, and 
a special term of court was held to try them. James Xoble, 
the United Staies Senator from Indiana, led in the prosecu- 
lion of the case, assisted by Calvin Fletcher, Philip Sweeter 
and Samuel ^lason. The prisoners w^ere defended by 
Charles H. Test, James Eariden, Martin M. Kay, AVilliam 
B. l^lorris and Lot Eloomneld. 



144 YOUNG TEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

xMtliougli the court was held in a rude log cabin, it was 
conducted with grave dignity and formality. The jurymen 
were rough backwoods pioneers, dressed in homespun or 
buck-skin trousers and hunting-shirts, sloucljed hats and 
coarse brogans, but tlieir demeanor was serious and digni- 
fied, and they listened with patient gravity from day .to day 
to the bloody story as each case came up for trial, and gave 
the closest attention to the arguments on both sides. As 
each case was ended they brought in the verdict of '^guilty." 
The younger Bridges was but sixteen years old, and on ac- 
coT-int of his youth and his testimony, which convicted tho 
others, they recommended him to the mercy of the Gov- 
ernor. 

The trial was attended by many citizens and Indians, and 
the feeling was very bitter against the murderers. They 
w^re all sentenced to be hanged, and the three older men 
were executed. Young Bridges was pardoned bv C Governor 
James B. Ray while on the scaffold. The 'hanging, which 
w^as public, took place near the roadside at the foot of the 
hill, a few yards east of the railroad bridge at Pendleton. 
The people for miles around were present, and a number of 
Indians also witnessed the execution and expressed them- 
sehes as being satisfied with the result of the trial. This is 
the only instance recorded in this country in which white 
men were hanged for killing Indians. 




THE OLD STATE HOUSE AT CORYDON. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 145 

CHAPTEE XIII. 

Capital Removed to Corydon — Steps Toward Statehood. 

The war was concluded Decemher 14, 1814, and peace 
restored between the United States and Great Britain. 
No\v, let us see wliat Indiana had heen doing all this time. 
We know how the settlers had snifered from the attacks of 
the Indians, and how the power of the savages had finally 
been broken and the tribes compelled to sue for pe-ace. 

The Territorial Legislature did not meet during the first 
year of the war. Governor Harrison was away con.mand- 
ing the Army of the Northwest, and General Gibson, Secre- 
tary of the Territory, was performing the duties of the Gov- 
ernor, lie called a meeting of the General Assembly for 
February 1, 1813. 

This session of the Legislature enacted thirty-two laws, 
the most important of which were for the purpose of im- 
proving the navigation of White Hiver, organizing counties 
and locating countv seats, fixing the time for holding courts 
in the Territory, opening and improving roads and high- 
ways, fixing the rate of taxes to he paid on land and other 
property, including slaves. 

This Legislature also passed a law to change the capital of 
the Territory from ^"incennes to Corydon. in Harrison 
County, Avhich was to take effect on the first day of May, 
1813. This change was made because Corydon was at that 
time near the center of population, and it was easier for 
most of the people to reach than was Vincennes. 

The State House which was built at Corydon for the use 
10 



146 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OV INDIANA. 

of the Legislature and the State officea-s, was completed in 
1815. It was built of stone taken from the hills in that 
vicinity, and is forty feet sqnare and two stories high. The 
lower story was used for the House of Represenitatives and 
the upper for the Legislative Council. The old State Ilo'Use 
is still standing, and is carefullj^ preserved by the j^eople of 
Harrison County. 

Although the people of Indiana Territory Lad the right 
to elect their Representatives to the Legislature by a major- 
ity vote of the ''free-holders,'^ or land-owners, of the Terri- 
tory, the President of the United States held the power to 
ai^point the Territorial Governors, Secretaries, judges of 
the Supreme Court and the Legislative Council. 

Before the Territorial Legislature Avas organized, the 
Governor and judges of the Territory adopted such laws of 
the original States as they believed to be suited to tlie needs 
and circumstances of the people, but, at the same time. Con- 
gress had the power to disapprove any law adopted, after 
v/hich it could not be enforced. 

The privilege of holding office and voting for Territorial 
Legislators was not given to every citizen of suitable age, 
but certain "property qualifications" were require I. Each 
member of the Legislative Council was required to own a 
''free-hold estate" of five hundred acres of land; every mem- 
ber of the House of Representatives must own "in Lis own 
right" two hundred acres of land, and only those citizens 
had the pnvilege of voting who, in addition to other require- 
ments, owned at least fifty acres of land. 

The Governor appointed all the officers of the militia, 
judges and clerks of the lower courts of the Territory, jus- 
tices of the peace, sheriffs, coroners, county treasurers, and 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 147 

surveyors. He also had the power to divide the Territory 
into districts, apportion the members of the House j of Rep- 
resentatives among the several counties, prevent the passage 
of any law, and call sessions of the Legislature or dismiss 
that body whenever he cliose to do so. 

The citizens of the Territorj^ were not satisfied with the 
limited power they possessed, although they did not com- 
plain that either of the Governors had been unjust or 
tyrannical; but they were unwilling that sucli unliuiited au- 
thority should be given to one man, and they made frequent 
appeals to Congress to extend their ^'right of suffrage." 

In 1S09 the qualified voters were given the privilege of 
electing the Territorial delegate to Congress. In 1811 the 
right to vote for members of the General Assembly and for 
Territorial delegates to Congress was given to every free 
white man in the Territory who was twenty- one years of 
age, had paid county and Territorial tax and had lived in 
the Territorv one vear. 

In 181-4 this privilege w^as extended to every free white 
man who was a land-owner, wdio lived in the Territory and 
was of the proper age. The same year Congress authorized 
the Legislature to divide the Territoiy of Indiana into five 
districts, and the voters in each district had the privilege of 
electing a member of the Legislative Council. This division 
was made at Corydon, in June of the same year. There 
weT3 then ten counties in the Territory. 

In 1813, Thomas Posey, a Senator from the State of Vir- 
ginia and an officer in the Revolutionary AYar, was appoint- 
ed Governor of Indiana Territory. Governor Posey amved 
at Yincennes on the 25th day of Hay, and entered at once 
upon his duties. In December, the Legislature met at the 



148 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

new capital at Cory don. On the 6tli day of tlie month. Gov- 
eirnor Posey delivered his first message to that body. He 
expressed hopeful views coneerning the resn't of the war 
with England, and called attention to the necessit\ of im- 
proving the militia and court system, and urged the advan- 
tage of having good roads and highways in ns Uiany direc- 
tions through the Territory as possible. He also called at- 
tention to the appropriation made by Congress, in lands, 
for tlie purpose of establishing public schools, nnd urged the 
Representatives to make use of the appropriation. AVe 
shall have more to say by and by of this act of Congress to 
pro^ ide means for educating the chiklren of Tndiaua. 

The Legislature adjourned in January. It had enacted a 
number of laws which were intended to improve the condi- 
tion of the new govemmxCnt. One of these laws was to pre- 
vent dueling, and required all members of the Legislature 
and officers of the Territorial government to talvo the oath 
against dueling. This is not required of officers now, be- 
cause the laws of the country forbid dueling, but in those 
da>s it frequently happened that when men quarreled, or 
felt that tliey had been wronged in any manner, they would 
challenge their enemy to fight a duel, and often one or both 
were killed or injured for life; but this, like many other bad 
customs, has passed away. 

From this time the condition of 'the settlements began to 
improve. The settlers lost their fear of the savages, and im- 
migration began to increase. The Indians retired to the 
lands set apart for their use by the government, and the 
destitute tribes were furnished with provisions and ammu- 
nitioTi to be used in hunting. 

In the spring of 1814, three commissioners were ap- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 149 

pointed to hold a treaty of peace and friendship \vith the 
lndii:ns of tlie northwest. General William Henry Harri- 
son, General Lewis (^ass and Governor Isaac Shelby, of 
]ventucky, composed the commission. Governor Shelby, 
however, did not serve. 

Ihey called a great council to meet at Greenville, Ohio. 
The time was fixeJ for the 20th day of June, but so many 
representatives of the tribes were absent that the council 
did not begin until the 8tli of July; and after it began, the 
weatlier was so bad and so many of the Indians we>re drunk, 
and behaved so badly, that the business of the council was 
not finished until July 22d. It was a large and important 
gathering, and about four thousand Indians were jiresient. 
At jast a treaty of peace was agreed upon and signed by a 
number of cliiefs from each tribe. 

Although the Indians agreed to be at peace with the 
Americans, small parties from diiierent tribes continued to 
annoy the settlers for more than a year. The A^uericans 
were not entirely guiltless of wrong-doing. An Indian 
chief and his squaw made a visit to Fort Harrison. They 
were kindly received by the officers, but while they slept, a 
ranger fired at them and killed the squaw. The Indians of 
her tribe ^rere very angry and excited, but the injured chief 
agreed to take a present to 'make up for his loss, and this 
seemed also to satisfy his friends. 

And now the time had come when another change was to 
be made in the government of Indiana. The settlers began 
to feel that they were entitled to be admitted into- the IIni( /U 
of States, and for months the subject of forming a State 
Constitution had been uppermost in their minds, Tliey had 
discussed it at their log-rollings, at their house-raisiQi^^, at 



150 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

their com-huskings, and at all tlieir social gatherings and 
public meetdngs. They had met at the coiintj seats and 
talked about it there. When they met each other on tlie 
roacl^ going to or from mill, or on any business journey, they 
drew rein and, sitting upon their horses, discussed the im- 
portant soibject from every standpoint. When friend met 
friend, when neighbor met neighbor, the all-absorbing ques- 
tion was, ^'Shall Indiana become a State?" 

As early as 1811, the Territorial Legislature adopted a 
memorial, or petition, asking Congress to authorize the peo- 
ple of Indiana Territory to form 'a State Constitution. 
When the General Assembly met at Cory don, in December, 
1815, GoA ernor Posey was ill at his home in Jeffersonville 
and could not be present, but sent his message to be read 
before the two houses. 

The efforts of the members of this Legislature were main- 
ly directed toward changing the Territorial government into 
that of a State. They, too, adopted a memorial, praying 
Congress to order an election to be held in the severa- coun- 
ties in the Territory for the purpose of choos'ng delegates 
to meet in convention, and there to determine, by i majority 
vote, whetlier or not they should go into a State govern- 
ment; and that, if the majority of the people desired it, they 
.should be given the power to form a State Constitution, or 
a frame of government; but if not so determined, the}^ asked 
l^at they be given authorit}' to provide for the election of 
representatives to meet in convention at some future time 
to form a Constitution. They also expressed the hope that 
the ordinance against slavery would be cor.tinuel, for at 
this time the majority of the people in Indiana were opposed 
to negro sJavery, and wished to keep it out of the Territory. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 151 

When Congress passed the ordinance for the ^overnineiit 
of Indiana Territory, it provided that whenever there 
fehoiild be 60,000 inhabitants in the Territory it should be 
admitted into the Union. The Legislature authorized that 
the census of the Terntory be taken, and the returns showed 
the number had reached 03,897. So Mr. Jennings, the Ter- 
ritorial delegate to Congress, laid the memorial before that 
body. 

It was placed in the hands of a committee, of w^iiich Mr, 
Jennings was chairman, and who, on Janu;ary 5, 1816, re- 
ported to the House of Representatives of the United Staites 
a bill which gave the people of Indiana Territory the au- 
thority to form a State Constitution and a State govern- 
ment, and provided for the ladmission of such a State into 
the Ij nion, on an equal footing with the original States. 

After being changed and amended in some part'culars, 
this bill was passed by Congress, and on April 19, 1816, it 
was signed by James Madison, President of the United 
States, and became a law\ This law was called an "Enab- 
ling Act," because it gave the delegates autlioritv, ior en- 
abled them, to form a State Constitution and State gorv^em- 
ment. On the 13th day of the following month an election 
was held for the purpose of choosing the delegates tO' the 
Constitutional Convention, which was called to meet at 
Cory don. 



152 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

CHAPTEK XIY. 

Indiana Becomes a State. 

In the year ISIG the delegates .elected to form a State 
Constitution and State government met at the Territorial 
cai'ital. It was the 10th of June; the spring air was sweet 
with the perfume of flowers, the day was bright Avith 
golden sunlight, and the silence of the forest was broken 
by the song of birds that flitted through the dark green 
branches of the trees. 

There was unusaiml excitement in the little town of Cory- 
don, nestling among the circling hills of Southern Indiana, 
for important events were about to take place, and work was 
to be done which concerned thousands of people yet imborn. 
Many of the delegates had arrived the day or nighc before, 
and had taken lodging in the little hotel,* or tavern, as it 
Avas called, of which the town boasted. They had traveled 
long distances, over almost impassable roads, through for- 
ests and low-lands, deep in mud and mire; for even in June 
the ^'blazed" trails and bridle-paths were in a condition 
wliicli made traveling indeed a hardship. 

Some of them had arrived at nightfall, others late in the 
night, weaiy, worn and splashed with mud, the long leath- 
ern leggins, which reached above the knees, being the only 
protection to their clothing. 

Leather pouches, called "saddle-bags," were thrown 
across their saddles, and contained their extra clothing, pa- 
pers, books and other necessary things. The saddle-bags 

=:'This hotel was built in 1809, and was constructed ont of native limestone. |t 
is situated about a mile east of Corydon, and is still standing. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 163 

were an important article in the outfit of a traveler. They 
consisted of a broad strap of leatheir, on each end of w'hich 
was a bag, or large pocket, with a flap, or lid, which ccmdd 
be strapped down, and kept the contents dry and protected 
them from mud and dust. There were many other strang- 
ers in the little city besides the delegates, for everybody was 
interested in the important work which was to be done, and 
the tavern and boarding-houses were doing sl ihriving busi- 
ness. 

Tlie bell on the old stone State House rang out the hour 
appointed for the assembling of the delegates. Many were 
already in their places, in the lower room, where the conven- 
tion was held; others came in as the last tones of the bell 
died away, while a few belated ones aiTived r.fter the con- 
vention had been called to order. 

They were a grave, serious body of men — these fat^iers of 
our Constitution — and would be a strange-looldng company 
if assembled in our legislative halls to-day, so £rreatly have 
manners and dress changed since Indiana became a State. 
They were not much given to fashion, except tlie fashion of 
the backwoodsmen, and were as rugged and rou^li in ap- 
pearance as the country they represented, llany of them 
were dressed in homespun, hand-v/oven clothing, made by 
the jdoneer wife and mother without the aid of sewing ma- 
chine, and cut by rules unknown to the tailors of to-day, for 
fit and style were a second consideration, warujth a ad wear- 
ing qualities being first. Some of them wore the ])uck-skin 
trousers and coon-skin cap of the pioneer, a garb well suited 
to the exposures they constantly endured, and heavy, high- 
topped boots covered their feet and lower limbs. 

But rough !as they may have been in appearance, they 



154 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

wei'e men of common sense, firm integrity laad honest pur- 
pose. Some of tliem became illustrious in tlie early history 
of Indiana, and one of them, Frederick Rapp, won world- 
wide fame by founding the communistic settlement at New 
Harmony, of which we will speak later, and one becaaie the 
first Governor of Indiana. 

Each member of the convention produced a certificate of 
his election from the sheriff of liis count}^, showing that ho 
had been elected to seiwe as delegate to the convention, and 
took the oath of fidelity to the United States, and an oath 
to discharge faithfully the duties of the office. They then 
took their seats upon the plain wooden benches, and the first 
Constitutional Convention of Indiana was formally opened. 
Jonathan Jennings was chosen President of the convention; 
WilUain Hendricks was elected Secretary. 

The first business of the convention was to consider and 
to determine the question as to whether a State government 
should be formed. The delegates, coming directly from the 
people, were well informed of their wishes, and voted 'ac- 
cordingly. A ballot was taken, which showed that a large 
majority favored a State Constitution. 

Tliis important question being settled, the delegates next 
proceeded to frame a Constitution for the new State. This 
occupied their attention until June 29th, at which time the 
convention closed. The room in Avhich the couvention was 
held was small and very much crowded, an'd as the weather 
be'came warm, seats were arranged out of doors, under the 
spreading branches of a large elm tree, and many of the 
sessions w^ere held there. The tree is still standing, and is 
called the '^Constitutional Elm." 

Mr. Dillon, in his History of Indiana, says: ^*The con- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 155 

vention that formed the first Constitution of tlio State of 
Indiana was composed, mainlv, of clear-lieaded, unpretend- 
ing men of common sense, Avhose patriotism was unquestion- 
able, and wliose morals were fair. Tlicir familiarity with 
the theories of the American Independence, their Terri- 
torial experience under the provisions of 1787, and their 
knowledge of the principles of the Constitution of the 
United States were sufficient, when combined, to lighten 
materially their labors in the great work of forming a Con- 
stitution for a new Slate. 

^^In the clearness and conciseness of its style, in the com- 
prehensive and just provisions which it made for the main- 
tenance of civil and religions Iberty, in its mandates which 
Avere designed to protect the rights of the people, collective- 
ly and individually, and to provide for the p iblic welfare, 
the Constitution which was formed for Indiana in 1316 was 
not inferior to any of the State Constitutions which were in 
existence at that time.'' 

The new Constitution required that the Governor and all 
other officers should continue to perform the duties of their 
offices until officers should be elected under authority of the 
State government. Jonathan Jennings, President of the 
convention, was authorized to instruct the sheriirs of the 
counties of Indiana to hold elections for the purpose cf elect- 
ing a Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, a Representative to 
the United States Congress, members of the General Assem- 
bly, and sheriffs and coroners of counties. 

At this elef:tion Jonathan Jennings was chosen Governor 
of Indiana. lie received 5,211 votes, against 3,931- given 
to Thomas Posey, who was the last Ten-itorial Go^'eraor, 
Christopher Harrison, of Washington County, was elected 



156 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Lieutenant-Governor, and William Hendricks was elected 
Representative to Congress. 

Tlie counties organized before Indiana became a State 
Avere: Clark, Daviess, Dearborn, Franklin, Gibson, Jlarri- 
son, Jackson, JeiTerson, Jennings, Orange, Perry, Pike, 
Posey, Sullivan, Switzerland, Warrick, Wasliingt* n and 
Wayne. The boundaries of these counties were not the 
same that they are now; all of them, except, perhaps, Switz- 
erland, have since been divided to form other counties. 

On December 11, 1816, James Madison, President of the 
United States, signed the resolution of Congress which 
formally admitted Indiana into the sisterhood of States. 

The first session of the General Assembly of the State of 
Indiana was held at Corydon, Xovember 4, 1810. Isaac 
Blackford was elected Speaker of the House, and John I^iul 
was chosen President of the Senate. The w^crk of this As- 
sembly was greater than that of former Legislatures. The 
great machinery of the new State was to be put in motion; 
the settlements were rapidly increasing in size and numbers, 
and laws must be made to meet their needs. 

jTie Constitution provided that all the State officers ex- 
cept the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor must be elected 
by the General Assembly, and those elected by this Legis- 
lature were: Secretary of State, Ivobert A. Xew; Auditor 
of State, Williaju H. Lilly; Treasurer of State, L>aniel S. 
Lane. James Xoble and Waller Taylor were elected to the 
United States Senate. At this time a land office for the dis- 
posal of public lands was located at Brookville, in Franklin 
County, which was then one of the most important town^ 
in the State, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 157 



CHAPTErt XY. 
State Government— Duties of Officers. 

Perhaps it would be well at this time to explain what a 
State Constitution is, and to tell why it is necessary that 
States should have Constitutions. 

I'cr the government of tht- people of a country, or a State, 
or a Territory, there nmst be laws to regulate their conduct, 
prevent crim^e, and secure the personal and property rights 
of individuals. For all such laws there must be a beginning, 
or foundation, or starting point; and that is just what a 
Constitution of a country or a State is^-the foundation, or 
frame, upon which the laws are constructed. 

There are two kinds of laws; one made by the people 
themselves; the other made by men chosen by the people 
to act for them. To make the first class of laws, the people 
elect a number of men to meet and prepare a code of laws, 
plainly written out. The meeting of these men is called a 
convention, and the written laws they prepare are called a 
constitution, and are generally submitted directly to the 
people for their adoption or rejection. 

After they have had time to examine thoroughly and 
discuss the proposed laws, an election is held, and all legal 
voters vote ''for" or ''against the Constitution.*' If the ma- 
joritv of the voters approve, it becomes a law. Ii is then 
the Constitution of the State. All future laws must be 
based upon it. It describes the frame-work of the govern- 
ment. It tells what officers shall be elected, explains how 
they shall be elected, defines their duties and powers, and 
defines and declares the rights of the people. 



158 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

It comes directly from the people, and no Legislature, no 
body of men however powerful, can alter or eliange it. It 
is tlie people's law, and they alone can change it in a man- 
ner described in the Constitution itself. A law which does 
not harmonize with it is ^'unconstitutional," and ear-not be 
enforced. To illustrate: The Constitution of Indiana de- 
clares that the Governor shall be elected for a term of four 
years. If the Legislature should make a law declaring that 
he should be elected for five years, it would be unconstitu- 
ticnal, becauise it would not agree or harmonize with the 
Constitution, and it would be of no force. 

It would be impossible for the people to vote on all 'mat- 
ters, or to make all the laws necessary for their government; 
so the Constituition provides that they may choose repre- 
sentatives to make laws for them. This is the second kind 
of law-making. Laws made by representatives elected by 
the people are called statutes, and they must conform to, or 
agree with the Constitution. The representatives of the 
peo])le may change the statutes, but they cannot change the 
Constitution. 

The Constitution and statutes of a State must not conflict, 
or disagree with the Constitution of the United States, 
which is the supreme law of the land. All b.ws mutt har- 
monize A\ith it; each must agree with the other, and the 
whole forms a pei'fect system of laws. i 

1'lie Constitution of a State deals only with prominent 
matters. It establishes principles upon which present and 
future laws are based, leaving the details to the Legislature. 
It outlines the government of the State, separates it into dif- 
ferent departments, declares what officers shall have charge 
of each department, and defines the duties of each one of 
them. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 159 

After the Constitution and laws of la State are made^ tliey 
must be enforced before they are of any nse. It becomes 
necessary, therefore, to select men to enforce, or execute 
them. The body of oificers elected for this pui'pose consti- 
tute an important part of the government. As men tiliey 
may not be superior to the average citizen, but as represent- 
atives of the State they are entitled to that respect and 
obedience which all owe to the State government. If an 
officer does not properly conduct himself, he may be re- 
moved from office. 

In organizing the State, three separate departments, cxr 
branches of government, nre formed, which, taken toofether, 
make what we call a system of government. They are called 
the Legislative Department, the Executive Department, and 
the Judicial Department. 

The Legislative Department. — The General Assembly, 
or law-making body, forms the Legislative Department. It 
is composed of two branches, or houses, called the Senate 
and the House of Kepresentatives. 

The Constitution of Indiana provides that there sliall not 
be more than fifty members of the Senate, called Senators, 
and not more than one hundred members of the House of 
Representatives, called Representatives. The Lieutenant- 
Governor presides over the Senate, while the House of Rep- 
resentatives is presided over by a "Speaker," elected by its 
miembers. Both branches elect their clerks and such 'other 
officers as are needed. 

The Executive Department. — I'he Governor of the State 
]s 'at the head of the Executive Department. He is tlie 
highest officer in the State, and is elected to serve for a term 
of four years. It is his duty to see that the laws are exe- 



160 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

cuted; that peace is maintained, and the rights of individ- 
uals protected. All bills passed by the Legislature are sent 
to him for his signature before they become laws. Pie has 
the power to "veto," or rcfu.se to sign, a bill, which prevents 
it from becoming a law, unless the two branches of the Leg- 
islature pass it over his veto, which they may do by the siame 
number of votes in each house that were requirex:! lor its 
original passage. (In Congress it requires a two-thiids vote 
to pass a bill over the President's veto.) 

The Governor is Commander-in-Chief of the militia, or 
State troops, and can call them into service whene^^er he 
considers it necessary in ord^r to prevent disorder or to en- 
force the law. He appoints all oilicers of the militia and is- 
sues all orders for their employment, through the Adjutant- 
General, whom he also appoints. He has power to pardon 
crindnals, except those guilty of treason or impeachment. 
He can pardon imconditionally or in part; that is, he can 
pardon on condition that the criminal conducts himself 
properly, and can cause him to be returned to piison to serve 
out his sentence in case he is guilty of improper conduct, or 
of violating the law. 

The Legislature gives the Governor power to make cer- 
tain appointments, such as trustees of the benevolent and 
penal institutions ani other boards aud commissioners. 
When a vacancy occurs in any State office, the Governor 
iills it by appointmeint. Thi-s includes judges of the courts 
and prosecuting attorneys, but not vacancies in the Legis- 
lature; he must order an election to fdl such vacancies. All 
pei-sons appointed to fill vacancies continue in office until 
the next general election. The Governor may call special 
sessions of the Legislature at any time, and under certain 
circumstances he may change its place of meeting. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 161 

In case the Govei'nor should die or resign his office, the 
Lieutenant-Governor assumes the duties of Governor, and 
is called "Acting Governor." The Executive Department 
is divided to form the Administrative Department. To this 
the Secretary, Auditor and Treasurer of State and other 
officers belong. 

The Judiciary Department. — The Judiciary Department 
refers to the courts, which are divided into two general 
classes, called the Supreme and the Circuit C^'urts. 

The Secretary of State has charge of the great seal of the 
State, which he affixes to all official papers and dov!uments 
which require the signature of the Governor. He superin- 
tends the printing of laws made by the Legislature, and per- 
forms various other duties. 

The Auditor of State is keeper and examiner of the pub- 
lic accounts, and money is paid out of the State Treasury 
only through his ordei^. Lie also has charge of the land 
leccrds of the State. All banking and insurance companies 
in the State (except Xational Banks) must report to him, 
and he may at any time order an exandnation of the busi- 
ness of sucb institutions, and may take them into .his cus- 
tody if he has reasons to believe them insolvent. 

The State Treasurer keeps the public funds, or the money 
belonging to the State, and is responsible for its safety. 'No 
money can be drawn from the State Treasury for any pur- 
pose unless provision has been made for it by law, and the 
State Treasurer can only pay out money on warrants, or 
orders, drawn by the Auditor of State in compliance with 
the law. The Treasurer must publish monthly reports of 
the different funds in his keeping. 

Besides the officers elected under the Constitution, there 
U 



162 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

are others wliose offices are created by law, wlio are also 
called State officers; tliey are the Attorney-General, State 
Geologist, State Librarian, Superintendent of Public In- 
struction, Superijitendent of Statistics, or Statistician, Clerk 
of the Supreme Court, and Reporter of Decisious. 

The Attorney-General is the State's lawyer. All lawsuits 
in which the State is interested are conducted by him. He 
also prosecutes all criminals wliose cases are brought before 
the Supreme Court, land collects certain moneys due the 
State. He gives his opinion on points of law in which the 
State is interested. The Governor, Senate and House of 
Representatives may apply to him for his opinion on all 
points of law. He is elected every two years, and has his 
office in the State House. 

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction is elected 
every two years. He has a general supervision over the pub- 
lic schools and educational affairs of the State, and makes ■■an 
annual report of their condition, to the Governor or General 
Assembly. His office is also in the State House. 

The Clerk of the Supreme Court keeps the records of the 
Supreme Court. He is elected by the voters of the State 
for a term of four years. 

The Reporter of Decisions publishes the decisions of the 
Supreme Court. 

The State Geologist is an officer skilled in the science of 
geology — that is, the science which treats of the formation 
of the earth, the niinerals, soil, etc. He has charge of the 
geological surveys of the State and has supervision over the 
mines, the s*ale of petroleum and the use of the natural gas 
supply. He reports to the Governor each year the discover- 
ies made in the State concerning the soil, minerals and other 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 163 

substances. His discoveries are often very useful to agri- 
culture, manufactories and the mechanical aits. The State 
Geologist also has charge of the State Muiscum, or collec- 
tion of geological specimens, Indian relics and other curios- 
ities, lie is elected for four years, and his office is in the 
State House. 

The State Statistician collects all information concerning 
agriculture, raining, education, manufacture, commerce and 
other industries; he also gathers facts concerning life, death 
and marriage and many other interesting things. The work 
of this officer is often very valuable. He has an office in the 
State House and is elected every four years. 

The State Librarian has charge of the State Library, and 
is elected every two years by the State Board of Education. 
He attends to the ]:)urcliase of books for the library, which 
is situated in the State House and consists of several thou- 
sand volumes. The Librarian sees that they are properly 
taken care of and that the rules which govern the library 
are not violated. 

In addition to these officers, laws have been made creat- 
ing special boards and commissions, each with spe<-ial work 
to perform. Among these are the Board of State Charities, 
t]ie State Board of Education, State Board of Health, State 
Fish Commission and State Tax Commission. 

The Board of State Charities is composed of four mem- 
bers, appointed by the Governor, who himself acts as Pres- 
ident, and a secretary elected by the board. The work of 
this board is in connection with the charities of the State; 
it has authority to examine all benevolent and penal institu- 
tions, jails, reformatories, orphans' homes, poor asylums, 
etc., and through the secretary of the board makes a report 



164 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

of the condition of each, the amount of money expended for 
its support, and is often al)le to make valuable suggestions 
concerning their management. 

Tiie- State Board of Education is composed of the Gov- 
ernor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Preis- 
idents of the Stati: University, State formal School, Purdue 
Fniversity and the Superintendents of the Public Schools in 
the three largest cities in the State. The Legislature of 
1S90 added to the board three other members, two of whom 
shall be County Superintendents of Schools. 

The duties of this board are to grant special certiilcates to 
teachers, to select the text-books to be used in the public 
schools and look after the general interests of the educa- 
tional affairs of the State. This board also elects the State 
Librarian. 

The State Board of Health is composed of five members, 
four of whom lare chosen by the GovernoT, Secretary and 
Auditor of State; the fifth member is elected by the four 
appointed members. The duties of this board are to exer- 
cise a general supervision over the health conditions of the 
State and investigate the causes of disease. It has power to 
regulate the drainage, heating and ventilation of all public 
buildings, and has authority to take measures to prevent the 
spread of contagious diseases. 

The Fish Commissioner is appointed by the Governor, 
lie examines the lakes and streams of Indiana to see if they 
can be made to produce more fish, and to take measures to 
pre^ ent unnecessary destruction of the fish already in them. 

The State Tax Commission is composed of the Governor, 
Secretary and Auditor of State and two Commissioners ap- 
pointed by the Governor. The duty of this board i^ to reg- 
ulate the taxes of the State, as is elsewhere explained. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 165 

For greater convenleaice in government, tlie State is di- 
vidod into counties, eacli witli a iscat of local government, 
called a county seat. Here the court lioaise and county jail 
are located and all county business transacted. Eai-li coun- 
ty has control of its own affairs, elects its own officers, levies 
and collects its. taxes, and pays a certain amount into the 
State treasury for the expense of the State government. 
The officers of a county are: Board of County Connnission- 
ors. Sheriff, Auditor, Cleric of the Court, Treasurer and 
Eeo order. 

The affairs of a county are directly under the manage- 
ment of a Board of County Commissioners, who meet at 
stated periods each year. This hoard has charge of the pub- 
lic buildings of the county; it erects the bridges, constructs 
the roads, graints certain licenses, and examines all claims 
against the county. It also has charge of 'the poor and in- 
firm who have become county charges. This is one of the 
most important offices in the State, and one which comes 
nearest to the people's interests. The Commissioners are 
the agents of the people and are responsible to them for the 
management of the public affaii's. 

The Sheriff is the executive officer of the courts and en- 
forces its orders. It is felso his duty to suppress riots, etc. 

The Auditor examinas all bills against the county and is- 
sues all orders on the Treasurer for their payment. He is to 
the county as the State Auditor is to the State. 

The Clerk of the Court keeps the court records and issues 
to the Sheriff all orders from the couii;. He also issues mar- 
riage and other licenses. 

The Treasurer keeps all the money belonging to the coun- 
ty and is responsible for its safety. He collects the taxes 



166 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

and may sell tlie property of tliose wlio refuse to poy their 
portion of tlie a.ssessmcnt. On order, or warrant, of the 
Coamtj Auditor, he pays to the State Treasurer the money 
duie the State from the collection of county taxes, and pays 
such other orders as are properly drawn. 

The Recorder keeps a record of all deeds and mortgages 
made on lands and otlier property in the county, and keeps 
a perfect record of titles to land within the ysounty. 

A County Superintendent of Puhlic ScIjooIs, who is 
elected by the Township Trustees, has supervision c>^•er the 
public schools of the county. 

For further convenience iii government, the counties are 
divided into townships, and a trustee elected in each town- 
ship, who manages its affairs. 

The Towmsbip Trustee superintends the construction of 
roads and bndges in his township, erects the school build- 
ings and keeps them in repair, employs the teachers and 
looks after the poor in his township. He also inspects the 
elections held in the precinct in which he lives, and, with the 
assistance of the Board of County Commissioners, and the 
approval of the Township Advisory Board, fixes the tax ooi 
property in his towTLship for school and road purposes He 
is to the township as the Board of Commissionei's is to the 
county. 

The Legislature of 1899 created County and Township 
Advisory Boards, consisting of several men elected by the 
people. To this board the County Commissioners and 
Township Trustees nnist submit estimates of the money 
needed for expenditures, both in the county and towushijis. 
'No money can be raised by taxation, nor can it be expended, 
mtbout the approval of these Advisory Boards. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 167 

In every county tlieo^e is an asylum for tlie poor, T\'*liere 
those wlio are unable to work and have no means of support 
are cared for sd the puLlic expense. 

County Commissioners are elected for a term of three 
years, Sheriffs and Treasurea's for two years, Auditors, 
Clerks and Recorders for four years. All State and (?oimty 
officers receive a salary for their services. 

The first county organized in Indiana was .Knox County, 
in the year 1790; the last was Howard County, in 1S46. 
]Cnox County embraced a large tract of land in the Avestem 
part of the State, and out of it about thirty counties have 
been formed. The territory called the ^'Xew^ Purchase," 
which lay in the southeastern part of the State, wms first 
di^dded into AVabash and Delaware Counties. Out of this 
teirritory about twenty-seven coimties were formed. 

Counties were organized by ^^acts,'' or laws made by the 
Legislature. Sometimes the settlers of a certain locality 
made application to the Legislature for a charter, authoriz- 
ing them to become a se^^arate and independent oouaty. A 
paper would be prepared, stating their wishes and signed by 
all those who desired a new county organization. This was 
called a petition. 

The Legislature receiving saich a petition would cause the 
case to be investigated, and if it iseemed best to grant the 
request, would pass an act, or law, to organise the county. 
Son^etimes the Legislators themselves considered it best for 
the government of the people to di^'ide certiiin sections of 
lajnd into counties, aud would make laws to that effect. The 
boundary lines would be defined, a name chosen for the new 
county, and commissionei'S appointed to fix the county seat, 
or ^^seat of justice," as it was sometimes called, and a circuit 



168 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

(50urt estiablis'lied. Tlie Goveirnor appointed a Sheriff, wlio 
ordered elections to be held by tlie ^'qualified'' votei^s of the 
county for the purpose of choosing the County Cominissioin- 
ers and other necessary officers. The Sheriff I?sued certifi- 
cates of election to the n-ew officers, as was the law. 

The counties in Indiana were named by the Legislature, 
many of them in lienor of the statesmen, heroes and schol- 
ars of that period. Of the ninety-two counties in the State, 
more than forty are named for military officer? and soldiers; 
seven are named for Presidents of the United States, three 
for Indiana Govei'nors and two for Indian tribes.* 



CHAPTEE XYI. 
Hardships of Pioneer Life. 

And now that Indiana has become a State, let us again 
pausie and take a backward glance over the years since tlie 
first white men explored the territory. 

For years the coimtry was ruled by the king of Prance, 
and then by the king of England. It was *a p.irt of Louisi- 
ana, and then a part of Canada, and through the efforts of 
George Rogers Clark and a few brave Virginians, it was 
captured from the hands of the British, and became a part 
of the State of Virginia. It was afterward ceded to the 
United States as a part of the great Northwestern Territory, 
which in time was divided to form the Territory of Indiana ; 
this was again divided to form the TeiTitory of Michigan. 
It was organized into the Indiana Territory, and again di- 

*• See Appendix A. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 169 

vided to form the Territory of Illinois; and finally, in the 
year of our Lord, one tliousiand eight hundred and sixteen, 
became, and still remains the State of Indiana. 

We have studied the history of our country from the 
time when the forests were infested with Avild, roving 
tribes of savage men; we have traced their footsteps through 
gloomy glens, and glided with them down swift, dark 
sti-eams; we have followed them across wide prairies, and 
crept behind them as they stealthily tracked the wild game 
of the wilderness; we have seen their dark faces flush with 
anger at the approach of the white men, and their toma- 
hawks raised above the heads of men, women and children; 
we have seen the soil of our fair State stained with the blood 
of innocent victims, and have heard their shrieks rend the 
silent air. We have heard the bark of the house-dog in the 
still night, warning the settlers of the approach of murder- 
ous bands, and have seen the dark forests lighted by tlie 
flames of burning homes, and whole families and settle- 
ments swept away. We have seen the brave Virginia 
troops plod through the swamps of southern Illinois, to cap- 
ture the British forts, and place the frontier setllements 
under the protection of the State of Virgin -a; v/c have 
waded with them through the water-covered lowlands, and 
with them swam swift, swollen streams; with them we have 
suffered hunger, cold and exposure, and with them rejoiced 
to see the "cross of St. George" pulled down, and our own 
glorious Stars (and Stripes float over captured Vincennes. 
We have seen the British driven from the conntrv and la 
free government establisihed. We have followed Pontiac, 
Tecumseh and the Prophet through their wild plans, to final 
defeat and ruin. We have heard the tread of armed men, 



170 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and gone with St. Clair, General Harrison and ''Mad An- 
thony AVajTie/' and witnessed the result of their expedi- 
tions. "We have been present at treaties with foreign na- 
tions, and at councils with wild tribes of Indians. AVe have 
sat in the Territorial Legislature at Yincennes and Cory- 
don, and listened to debates on negro slavery, on Indian 
warfare and the propriety of State government. We liave 
listened with breathless interest to pioneer statesmen, as 
they eloquently expressed their common-sense views con- 
cerning the laws which should govern the people. We have 
noted their manner, their clo'tliing, their habits, and have 
been amazed that amid such rugged surroundings, they 
could build so sure a foundation for so great a State. 

And now we have seen these things pass away. The red 
men are a vanquished race — a few wretched savages scat- 
tered about, and no lonc:er the kind's of the forests. The 
poweir of the British is broken, the nations from over the 
sea acknowledge our ability to take care of ourselves, and 
Indiana is a State. 

Would it not be well at this time, to inquire who the men 
and women were who came to this wild and rugged country 
to make homes for themselves and to plant civilization 
where wild lawlessness reigned? Shall we not study their 
habits, their dress, their manner of living and conducting 
themselves? Governor Harrison said tliat this is one of the 
"fairest portions of the globe." We know it now to be one 
of the greatest States in the Union; surely the people who 
came to change the wilderness into a garden, are worthy of 
our studv and attention. 

At the time Indiana became a State, there were perhaps 
not more than 64,000 inhabitants, in straggling settlements, 



VOtfNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 171 

through out the southern part of the Territory. They had 
come from almost every State in the Union, but chiefly from 
Pennsylvania, Virginia and other Southern States. They 
were mostly very poor people, but were honest, and as hardy 
and rugged as the rough country in which they lived. 

Some of them emigrated from their old homes in strong 
wagons drawn by horses or oxen. They placed their fami- 
lies and all their worldly goods in this car of the wilderness, 
and bidding their friends good-bye, bravely turned to face 
hardships and danger, sometimes disease and death . 

The journey from civilization to the forest home was 
difficult and dangerous. The Ohio Eiver was the great 
thoroughfare of many of the immigrants. It was called 
the "Beautiful River," and it deserved the title. It was 
then as nature had made it, with nothing to mar its beauty 
but a few scattering villages. The grand old forests 
through which it flowed, had not been touched by the wood- 
man's ax, which afterward destroyed them, but down to the 
brink of its ^\'aters grew magnificent trees, tangled vines, 
and brilliantly colored flowers, which shut 'out from view 
everything but the sky, the river and their own grandeur 
and loveliness. 

The emigrant would load his family and goods on a flat- 
boat, and float with the current to some point where he de^ 
sired to land. The journey down the Ohio was full of dan- 
ger. The river was constantly watched by roving bands of 
Indians, and many an unfortunate family met death along 
its borders. It has been said that there is scarcely a mile 
from Pittsburg to the Ohio Palls that has not at some time 
been the scene of deadly conflict. 

After leaving the river, it took days land weeKS to reach 



172 YOIJNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY O^ INDIANA. 

the spot wliicli tlie immigrants were seeking. Eoads were 
unknown, and every foot of the way must be carved out of 
the forest which stood like a solid wall before them. 

It was a wonderful growth of trees that m?.de tliose grand 
old forests. Such mighty oaks, brotad, spreadin^>' beeches, 
giant ashes, maples and poplars are not found on any conti- 
nent but ours. The shade was so dense that the noondav 
sun could scarcely pierce it on the brightest summer days. 
The trees that had fallen were almost as numerous as 
those standing, and were in all stages of decay. Some 
of them had newly fallen; some Avere sunk half their 
depth in the soft, damp soil; some were lying side by side, 
others had fallen across each other in great tangled heaps; 
through and over them gTcw thickets of small trees, or sap- 
lings, spice-wood and briars, all in a confused mass throngh 
which a horseman, or even one on foot, could scarcelv 
clamber. Think, then, Avliat a task it must have been to 
cut through this wilderness, a road wide enough to allow 
horses and w^agon to pass. !Many miles of the distance 
must be cut through such barriers as these. Sometin\es, on 
higher ground, the thickets and undergrowth were not so 
dense, and only the trees — those great, giant trees — must be 
cut away before the wagons could pass. 

The immigrant pushed on, howevea*, cutting his road 
through the forest, and ^^blazing'' the way as he went — ^that 
is, he cut a portion of the bark from the trees on eith-^r side, 
as a mark to show the way. This blazed roadway was a 
guide to the next immigrant who came that way. In some, 
places the gi'ound was so wet and swampy, that h^ was 
obliged to rut down small trees, o>r saplings, as thej were 
called, and place them side by side across the road, t ) keep 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 173 

the horses and wagon from sinking in the mire. These were 
called "corduroy" roads, and very rough and uncomfortable 
oneis they were to travel. 

There were no bridges, and when an unknown stream was 
reached, before risking his family and property in crossing, 
th€ pioneer would unhitch a horse from the wagon, and ride 
through the water on horseback, measuring its depth, and 
selecting the safest place for crossing. By marking the 
spot, the next traveler was saved this trouble. Thus did the 
pioneers make each step easier for those who came after 
them. 

At night, the family slept in the woods, miles and miles 
away from any human being, and of t^n exposed to dangers 
from Indians, and from panthers, wolves and other wild 
animals. By keeping his camp-fire burning brightly, and 
with his trusty rifle by his side, the pioneer was able to keep 
the wild beasts aAvay; he was indeed fortunate if his fire did 
not attract the attention of the wild men. 

Days and weeks passed in this tiresome manner. Some- 
times a little child would sicken on the way. The parents 
would watch it with anxious care, and do all in tlieir power 
to relieve its suffering. In agony th-ey would see the little 
life pass aw^ay, with no kind friends to comfort them. WitJli 
almost broken hearts they would dig a shallow grave in the 
dark forest, and tenderly place the little form in the ground 
and cover it from tlieir sight. They would linger awhile 
about the little mound, and in tears and sadness leave it to 
nature's care, and journey on. Thei*e was little time for 
grief. 

Under such difficulties, and through such dangea-s, the 
pioneer men and women of Indiana reached the p^ace they 



174 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

were seeking. There was scarcely a mile of the wav but 
had its story — ofttimes its tragedy. 

The first act, after arriving at the place they wished to 
make their home, was to select a spot for a house, which was 
ii-siially near some spring, or stream of water. Here the 
ground was quickly cleared by cutting away th.e trees and 
brush, and the settler's cabin built from trees felled for the 
purpose. The logs were cut the proper length, loft round, 
and often with the bark upon them. They were notched 
down at the ends, and placed one upon the other, with the 
notches fitting into each other, to hold them r-.ecure. AVhen 
the walls were built, the roof was covered with clap-boards, 
or long boards split from logs, and fastened down with poles 
and wooden pins. A fireplace and chimne;y were made of 
sticks and mud; the floor Avas made of thick wooden slabs 
called ^'puncheons.'' Sometimes, when the season was late, 
the ground served as a floor until the settler had planted his 
crop. 

A small opening for a window was made by cutting away 
a portion of a log; this was left open in summer, and in win- 
ter gi'eased paper was i^nasted over it, which let in the light 
and kept out the cold. An opening was left for the door, 
which was made of heavy boards, split from iogr,, and fast- 
ened together with wooden pegs, and hung on w^ooden 
hinges. It was fastened by a w^oo<^len latch, which waa 
raised by a leather string; by drawing the strirg ins' do, the 
door was fastened and could not be opened from the outside. 
Tlie space between the logs was filled with stitf mud, or 
mortar, which kept out the cold in winter. 'Not sl nail waa 
used in the entire buildiuii;. 

Only such articles as could be made by the settler himself 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 175 

were used to furnish this little home in the forest. Yery 
little could be brought in the wagon, which must carry the 
family, a few dishes, clothing, bedding, and cooking uten- 
bils, with provisions enough to last until more could be 
raised. As for buying furniture, that was not to be thought 
of — iirst, because nothing of the kind could be found in the 
wilderness^ and second, because the settler had but liitle, if 
any money; besides, the land must be paid for — a small 
price to be sure, but it often taxed him to the utmost to pay 
the small sum required by the government. So, with the 
tools he brought with him — an. ax, a savv, and a hammer — 
the pioneer made the furniture for bis cabin, which was to 
be kitchen, parlor, dining-room and bed-room all in. one. 

The cooking was done at the open fireplace; beds were 
made by driving pegs into the wall and placing boards 
across them; upon this, ticks filled with leaves, or straw, if 
they could get it, were placed, softened, perliaps, by a 
feather-bed from the old home; over this were spread the 
blankets, quilts, etc-., w^hich they also brought with them. 
A rough table was made of boards split from logs; a shelf or 
two was fastened to the wall, upon which were placed the 
dishes, which were often of j>ewter or tin ; the dishes, plates 
and spoons were of pewter; the cups, pans and coilee-pot of 
tin. After the settlements were formed, there was often 
great rivalry among the housekeepers, in keeping tin and 
pewter ware bright and floors and tables clean and white. 

Chairs or stools were made of slabs, or puncheons, to 
which were fastened wooden legs; on two foa'ked sticks over 
the door hung the settler's rifle, while the family wearing 
apparel ornamented the walls. They had ]}ut few cooking 
vessels — a "dutch oven," or deep skillet with an iron cover, 



176 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

a few paiis, and la kettle or two — tliat was all; a cliest or box 
brought from tlie old home completed the fiiriiitm*e. In 
homes like this, the first settlers in Indiaina lived. In homes 
like this their children were bom and reared, and in such a 
home, in southern Indiana, the immortal Abraham Lincoln 
S2:)ent the early years of his life. 

No candles or lamps had these early settlers, but the little 
cabin was lighted by the cheerful blaze from 'the great open 
fireplace. By and by they made candles by v/rapping a 
strip of linen or cotton cloth around a stick ten or twelve 
inclies long, and covering it with tallow pressed on with the 
hands. These gave lights for several nights. Lamps were 
made by scraping half a turnip down to the rind, placing a 
stick three inches long in the center, so it would stand up- 
right, wrapping a piece of cloth around it, and pouring 
melted lard, bear's grease, or deer's tallow int<^) the turnip 
rind until it was full; it was then ready for use. Such 
lights as these would be poor substitutes for the brilliant 
illuminations of the present time, but by such lights as 
these, on long winter evenings, the women spun the thread 
and wove the ^^linsey-woolsey" which, by the same light, 
they afterward made into clothing for the family. 

To clear a little patch of ground for com and vegetables 
was the next thing to be done after the cabin was built. 
This was not an easy task, for the timber wa« heaA y and the 
green logs and brusih not easily burned or j-emoved. The 
first fields were imperfectly cleared, but on thein were 
raised a little corn, a few pumpkins and pot?itoes for imme- 
diate use. 

It was a hard winter's work to clear three or four acres of 
ground, and prepare it for planting in the spring. The 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 177 

trees must not only be cut clown, but they must be burned; 
the decayed logs and bni^li must also be collected and 
burned to be out of the way of the plow. The settler's wife 
and children often assisted in the work of clearing the 
ground, as they afterward did at the plow and in the corn 
and wheat harvest. At the proper season, when the sap, or 
liquid flow, which is the blood of the trees, was circulating 
through trunk and branches, the settler went to tlie ground 
he wished to clear, and with his ax chopped the bark aroimd 
each tree. This stopped the circulation of this life-giving 
fluid, and caused the trees to die and decay. Such a spot of 
ground was called a ^'deadening." The settler left the trees 
until such a time as he could clear the ground. Here they 
stood, those tall dead trees, stretching out their bare, leaf- 
less branches in strange contrast to the bright green foliage 
of the living trees about them. 

^fany of these deadened trees fell of their own accord, 
others were chopped or burned down. The logs were cut, 
or burned in pieces ten or twelve feet long, and then rolled 
together in heaps, the brush piled upon them, a^d all 
burned together. The light from these ^^clearings" could 
be seen for some distance, and sent strange shadows dancing 
through the trees at night. It often took dfiys to bum 
these ^^log-heaps," and morning and evening the settler must 
bring the burnt ends of the logs together with a long pole, 
or ^'hand-spike." This was called "righting np the log- 
heaps." After the settlements Avere formed, the pioneers 
would assist each other in clearing the ground. 

In the spring, the newly cleared ground was plowed, and 
the seeds planted, but the work was by no means done. 
There was nlways danger of the seeds being taken up by 



178 YOUiNG PEOPLE'S HISTOKY OF INDIANA. 

birds and squirrels, for the fields were- surrounded by for- 
ests which were full of pests, and it was necessary to keep 
constant watch over them, or the labor of planting would be 
lost. In the fall, while the crop was maturing, there wag 
equal danger from raccoons, and otheir thievos of the woods. 
It was a hard, difficult life that these settlers lived, shut 
away from the world and all communication with friends — 
dependent upon their own resources for the means of living 
and the necessities of life; it was a continuous battle against 
nature, wild animals and wild men, for not until after In- 
diana became a State was all fear from prowling savages re^- 
moved, and we have seen how, in earlier times, many poor 
families suffered at their hands be'fore their power was 
finally broken. 

There were no saw-mills, no grist-mills, no stores or shops 
in the country. The grain, when ripened, was grated, or 
pounded into meal for bread. Xot only must the settlers 
spin, weave and make their own clothing, but they must 
raise the material as well. They grew flax and spim it into 
thread, which they wove into a kind of coarse cloth for 
summer wear. They raised sheep, and spun tlie wool into 
tliread, which they knit into stockings and wove into cloth 
for winter. They colored the thread or th-j cloth with the 
bark from trees. They made the soap with which they 
washed their clothing. In fact, they did every kind of work 
and supplied all their own necessities. 

Their food was procured in different ways. The wild 
game of tlie forest furnished the meat; deer, bear, wild-iiog, 
turkey and squirrel were to be found in abundance; com. 
wheat and vegetables were raised on the groimd tJiey 
cleared; wild fruits — grapes, plums, crab-apples, paw-paws, 



\01jNQ PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 179 

wild oLerries and many varieties of berries — were found in 
the woods. Honey, too, was often found in large quanti- 
ties, and lumting bee-trees was a profitable business for 
leisure hours. Coffee was made of 2>ai'ehed wheat or corn; 
tea w^as made from spice-wood, sassafras, and different kinds 
of herbs wdiich gerw in the woods. 

iSTo physicians could be had, however nucli tliey were 
wanted. The pioneer and his wife w^ere their own doctors, 
and in sickness they used such simple remedies as they knew, 
and made medicines of the herbs that were known to have 
healing qualities. One common remedy in the early days 
was to bleed the patient; this was done foa' the healing of all 
diseases. 

There were no post offices, nor postal routes, and no reg- 
ular way of communicating with friends. The first settlers 
were as completely cut off from their old home and friends 
as though an ocean rolled betw^een them. By and by, when 
other immigTants came, and wdien settlements T\ere formed, 
letters were sent by private hands. When people in the east 
wished to send lettei'^ to their friends on the frontier, they 
addressed them to the settlement in which they lived, and 
gave them to some emigrant, who in turn 2'ave it to some 
other person going to that settlement, or near it. 

The settlements were all called by some particular name, 
as the "Pigeon Roost Settlement," 'Moncs' Settlement," etc. 
Sometimes weeks, perhaps months, would pass before such 
letters reached their destination in this in'cgular fashion, 
but they were none the less welcome because the news they 
contained was somewhat stale. 

Through fear of the Indians, the first cabins were made 
very strong ; the doors w^ere often three or four inches thick, 



180 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

sftrongly made, and we're fas'teiied on the inside bj strong 
wooden bars. After all dangeir from tlie savages was passed, 
the wooden latcli Avitli tlie leatlier latch-string w^as used. In 
the day-time tlie latch-string hung oaitsidc; at night it was 
drawn inside, which prevented anyone from opening the 
door from the outside. 

Wolves, bears, panthers, wild-cats and other wild animals ' 
prowled around the settler's cabin in the darkness and made 
night hideous, while the fear of the Indians was constantly 
upon them. The trcacherons habits of the savages made 
them more to be dreaded, for they never allowed their ap- 
proach to a cabin to be known, but leaving the pathway to 
tlie door, they would slip behind the cabin and suddenly 
spring around the corner. Sometimes a family would be 
startled by seeing five, ten, or perhaps twenty Indians at 
the door, armed with tomahawks, guns and scalping knives. 
Amid such hardships and dangers, the settlers lived anid 
woi'ked to make themselves a home. 

By and hj the little cabin in the Avoods began to look 
more homelike. Vines clambered over tlie rough walls, 
bright flowers bloomed in the little door-yards, which were 
inclosed by a rail fence; other and greater fields were 
cleared, and surrounded by fences made of rails split from 
the trunks of trees; a log stable sheltered the horses and cat- 
tle, a well was dug near the door, and over it hung the long 
well-sweep, from which a bucket was suspended. Little by 
little, step by step, the never-ending progress continued. 
By and by the blue smoke curled above other cabins, neigh- 
bors appeared, settlements were formed, roads were made, 
mills were built, bridges made across streams, school-houseg 
began to appear here and there, villages sprang up, wMclx 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 181 

grew into towns and cities, the forests grew less dense and 
finally almost disappeared. The log lioiises gave place to 
comfortable frame ot l>rick dwellings, these tO' elegant 
homes; churches, schools, colleges were established over the 
country; railroads and canals were built; gravel roads and 
streets, miles and miles in length, Avere made. 

And so the footsteps of progress can be traced Until we 
have the Indiana of to-day, with her cities, her mansions, 
her towns and villages, her railroads, her churches, her in- 
stitutions of learning, her arts, her sciences, her monimients, 
her people; and all this progress has been made in less than 
one hundred vears. 



CHAPTER XYII. 
Occupation and Social Life of the Pioneers. 

The life of the pioneer, although rough and filled with 
hard work, was not without its pleasures. After the country 
became more settled, and neighbors were nearer, more time 
was given to social enjoyment, but always mixed with liai'd 
Avork. 

When a house was to be raised, or logs to be rolled off a 
new piece of ground, an invitation was sent to every man in 
the settlement to come on a certain day and help. Xo mat- 
ter how busy he was mth his own work, no man refused to 
assist his neighbor. Kor did he go alone, but was usually 
accompanied by his wife and daughters, who went to help 
tlie "women folks" prepare tlie dinner. The children were 
also included in the party, and a gala day was made of the 



182 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

occasion. Sometimes tlie hostess would invite the women of 
the neighborhood to a ''qui] ting" on that day, and a merry 
time was enjoyed in the little cabin, which rang with the 
s'ound of happy voices keeping time to the busy fingers. 

These occasions were very sweet to the pioneer women, 
w^ho lived lonely, solitary lives, and whose hearts often 
yearned for the old home and friends. It was no uncommon 
thing for a family to live miles from any human beings; yeit 
all within reach Avere neighbors, and five or ten miles was 
not considered a great distance for a man or woman to go on 
horseback, or on foot, to visit the sick or do ,a .neighborly 
kindness. 

The men in the clearings were not witliout theilr pleas- 
lu'es, and many a rough joke broke the monotony of their 
labors ; many a test of strength and skill was made with the 
long hand-spike, or by lifting and wrestling. And then, 
when the noon hour arrived, how merrily they would gather 
around the table in the little cabin, and how the young men 
and girls would blush ait the very sight of each other, land 
how rajjidly the food would disappear down the hungry 
throats, amid such laughing and chattering as would do one 
good to hear! 

Then, again, when the com was ripe and gathered in, 
came the merry ''huskings," which were particularly pleas- 
urable for the young people, for a dance oi' a ineny play 
was sure to follow. The com was divided into two heaps of 
equal size. The buskers wore divided into two companies, 
and captains placed over them. The company which fin- 
ished husking its heap first, w^on the contest. How they 
worked, and liO'W rapidly the ]>iles of white and yellow com 
grew, and how the husks flew and x*ose in great billowy 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. W6 

heaps behind the huskers! When the last ear was finished 
on one side, the successful workers gave a glad shout, and 
gathering up their oaptain, ti'iuniphantly carried hiin cxn 
theii gho aiders into the ranks of the otheii' company, 'and. 
amid such boisteroue laughter, ridiculed the tardy huskers. 
Then followed the merry plays and the dance. 

However well the pioneer men fought the battle of life, 
the pioneer women fought just as bravely and as well; they 
endured hardships as great a.nd shared equally with their 
husbands and fathers their responsibilities and trials. They 
lived lives of true heroism and patient endurance. They, 
too, were helpful to eiach other. They sometimes took their 
spinning-wheels and walked a mile, or perhaps two or three 
miles, to attend a ^^spinning bee" in order to assist -a neigh- 
bor, and the busy wheels and the busy voices would startle 
the birds in the tall trees outside the cabin. After hours of 
hard work, they enjoyed the simple meal prepared for them 
by their hostess, aind in the evening joined in some innocent 
amusements, to which the men had been invited. Quilting, 
wool-picking and many obher kinds of work were done with 
tlie assistance of the women of the settlement, and all such 
occasions wei^e turned into seasons of merriment, which 
broke the monotony of their hard-working lives. The men 
and women of early Indiana were usually m the prime of 
life and enjoyed all such merry-making. Very few aged 
people came to the State in the pioneer days. 

Boys and girls were taught from their early childhood 
that they nmst assist in the work going on about tliem. The 
boys fed the pigs, chopped and carried in the wood, and did 
the other chores after a day's work in the clearing, or at the 
plow, or in the harvest. The girls quit tlie spinning-wheel. 



184 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

or tlieir sewing, or knitting, to milk the cow, feed tlie chick- 
ens and wash tho dishes. There was no time for idleness, 
even among the children, for farms were to be cleared, and 
£1 great State Avas to be made, and each must do his part. 

Tlie tools of the settler were an ax, a broad ax, a maul and 
wedge, a froe, a whip-saw and. hand-spike. His work was to 
go into the woods, chop, hew, saw, split and rive; to bujild 
houses and stables of logs; to make feoices of rails, which he 
split from trees ; to clear and plow the ground, and to plant, 
cultivate and gather the crops of wheat, corn and vegeta- 
bles. The ground was so thickly covered with stamps that 
it was very difficult to plow among them, and corn and vege- 
table's were cultivated with the hoe. The stumps were 
burned and 'dug out as rapidly a<s possible, but in the begin- 
ning they gave a very rough appearance to the fields. It 
took years to clear a field entirely of them. 

Oats and wheat were sown broadcast, after the ground 
Avas prepared, and the settler tied brush together and 
dragged it oycv the newly-sown seed, thus lightly covering 
it with soil. After a time, harrows with wooden teeth Avere 
introduced, and the farmer A\dio AA'as so fortunate as to OAvn 
one had plenty of opjoortunities to loan it to his neighbors; in 
fact, borroAving and lending AA^as a special feature of pioneer 
neighboring. Sheep-shears Avere also an important imple- 
ment in la pioneer settlement, one or tAvo pairs serAdng for 
an entire neighborhood. 

When the Avheat matured and was ready to be harvested, 
it was cut Avith a crooked knife, called a sickle, and tied in 
bunches, or bundles, and placed in shocks of a dozen bundles 
each. MoAAdng machines had not been invented and could 
not have been used among the stumps AAdiich covered th§( 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 185 

fields. The wheat shocks were gathered into a shed, 'or 
made into stacks until ready for threshing; this was done by 
spreading it on the floor, or the hard ground, and beating it 
witli a flail, made of a sir all liickory sapling, to one end 'of 
which a separate piece of wood was fastened by a leather 
strap, or string, to give it more play, or force. By much 
beating with this instrument, the grain was separated from 
the straw, which was lifted away with wooden forks, and 
placed in a pile, or stack. There yet remained the ohaff 
among the grain. To separate this, two men. or a man and 
a woman, took hold of the corners of a linen sheet, and by 
spreading it out and tossing it and fanning it in the air, a 
breeze was created which blew away the chaff, leaving the 
golden grain pure and clean. 

i'lax was also an iiiiportant crop in pioneer days. After 
it had matured, it wais pulled up by the roots and spread on 
the ground, where it was left to rot in the s-un land rain; 
this loosened the lint from the stems. It was then broken 
in sliort lengths, in a machine with wooden olades, called a 
^^flax-brake.'' The Imt, or stringy fiber, Avas thsn cleaned 
from the stems by a process called ^^scutching," after which 
the coarse fiber wais ready for the ^'hackle," wljich was a 
board filled with pointed iron teeth, through which the lint 
was drawn until all the loose particles of tow were separated. 
It was then rolled rp in small bundles and spun into threads, 
which the busy housewife wove into cloth, from which 
dresses and underclothing were made for tlie women and 
children, and shirts and trousers for the men arid lx)ys. The 
bed and table linen was also woven of flax and the threads 
knit into stockings for the family. 

The women did all the housework — cooking, washing^ 



186 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

scrubbing, milking and butter-making; they did spinning, 
wea\'ing, sewing, knitting, mending, rearing their children 
and sometimes teaching theni from books, for 'there were no 
schools in the early days; and besides all this, they often 
helped in the clearings and in the fields. All manner of pri- 
vations and liaTdghips were theirs, and that weariness of 
mind and body which comes of ceaseless toil. 

Tlieir food was the plainest. AA^heat bread was <a luxury 
that few could afi'ord. Corn bread was the slaple food, and 
it was made in the simplest way. The meal was mixed with 
salt and water and made into a stiff dough ; this was placed 
on a smooth clap- board, two or more feet long and about an 
inch thick. This was placed in a leaning position before a 
hot fire; when partly baked, the 'Mohnny-cake,*' as it was 
called, was turned on the board, and the othei- side was put 
toAvard the fire. Sometimes the dough was baked in lumps 
in a ''dutch-oven:" this was called ^'dodger," and very sweet 
and wholesome it tasted to the tired and hungry men. Mo- 
lasses was sometimes uiade by exti^acting the sweet substance 
from the pumpkin and boiling it until it became a sii'up. 
Sugar and molasses were also made from the maple trees. 

The pioneers had no luxuries. Matches, which we con- 
sider a necessity, were unknown to them. Fire was kept 
froiii day to day, from }'ear to year, by covering heaps of 
coals with ashes in the open fire-place. It was a calamity 
when the fire went out, and if there were no neighbors, 'as 
was often the case, it must be kindled by striking a flint ovei' 
a tinder box. If there were neighbors, it was easier to bor- 
row from them. 

One foe to the pioneer was malaria. AVith the clearing 
out of the forests and swamps, the plowing of the fields, tlie 



YOUNG PEOPLE S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 187 

drying out of lands and the decay of vegeitable matter, came 
chills and fever; very few escaped it. Strong men and 
women, land little children alike, were stricken with this 
dread disease. Sometimes the usual remedies failed tO' re^- 
store health, and the patient died, a victim to the unhealthy 
condition of the country. Sad indeed was the day when ithe 
little procession of mourners followed the dead along the 
road which wound its way in and out through the trees 
which grew between the little cabin in the clearing and the 
graveyard in the forest. 

Before the pioneer had time to build fences around his 
farm, cattle, hogs and sfheep were allowed to run at will 
through the woods. They were usually marked by cutting 
the ear in some peculiar manner; these were called ^^ear- 
marks." Often a bell was hung by a leather strap to the 
neck of a cow or la silieep. These bells were made by the 
sefttlers, and each knew the sound of his own bell. 

Sometimes it became necessary for the settler to make a 
journey to some town on the Ohio River to buy provisions, 
such 'as ^^bread-stuff," and other necessities which they could 
not provide for themselves. It often required weeks to 
make this journey, and during the time nothing could be 
heard from the traveler. If he was attacked and killed by 
wild beasts or by the Indians, his fate was never known. 

By and by mills were built on the frontier; small, rude 
affairs, to be sure, but they filled a much-felt want. Some 
of these mills were run by water, others by horse power. In 
either case, it was slow work grinding corn into coarse meal 
for family use. The "grist" was prepared by the settler 
and his family, by the bright blazing fire of his cabin. Bas- 
kets of corn were brought in, and after supper, the entii'e 



188 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

family would assist in slielling it from the cob. It was then 
put into a bag, and the next dav t]ie settler placed it on the 
back of a horse, mounted behind it, and started on his jo'UJr- 
ney to the mill, whicli was often a long distance away. It 
siometimes required three or four da) s to make the journey 
to and from the n]ill. AVhen he aiTived, he would probably 
iind otheirs there before him and must wait his turn. 

As time went on, these conditions clianged. Other land 
larger mills were built. Eaoh settlement liad its store, its 
blacksmith, shoemaker and other mechanics. By and by 
the log cabins gave place to hewed-log houses, some of them 
with an upper ro«om. Bedsteads and other furniture could 
be bought. Trundle-beds that could be rolled under the 
tall bedstead was a space-saving arrangement; in this the 
children were stowed away at night, from two to a ihlalf 
dozen occupying the same bed. It was a proud day when 
the family owned a looking-glass, though it was probably 
not more than ten or twelve inches long. 

Tliere were vices, too, in those days, as there are now, for 
many rough people came into the new country. In some 
places, cock-fighting, drinking and gambling were commoai. 
Almost ever)^ family kept a quantity of whiskey, which was 
considered good medicine for ''chills," and '^niall distilleries 
were soon established in settled parts of the country. There 
were Christian men and women, however, vrho, in the face 
of all such influences, rescued society from the rowdy ele- 
ment by the purity of their lives and influence. 

The people of those early times were merry-hearted, 
cheerful, kind and neighborly. Although their hardships 
were many, they brought much sunshine into their every- 
day lives. They were by nature inuch like the people we 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 189 

know; it was tlieir circumstances and surroundings that 
made them different. 

Tiieir wants were simple, and they worked hard to live 
within their means. They loved the beautiful, and without 
the means of providing themselves with beautifal homes, 
elegant surroundings, and handsome clothing, they adorned 
their little cabins the best way they could, and lived close 
to nature, which is always beautiful. Blooming vines clam- 
bered over the walls of the little forest homes, -aud every 
door- yard was made bright and fragrant by its bed of roses, 
sweet-briar, pinks, and other sweet, old-fashioned flowers. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
Early Surveys — How the Land was Sold. 

Did you ever notice how the land in Indiana is divided 
into parts called farms, and lots owned by individuals, and 
Avonder how it came to be so, and how it is that the owner 
can tell where his land ends and his neighbor's begins ? Did 
you ever notice that the farm, or lot on which you live is 
surrounded by a fence or some other mark which separates 
your grounds from your neighbor's and from the street or 
road, and did you ever wonder why it is just there <and not 
some other place? Did you ever think that there must be a 
reason for this, and that there is some law which igoverns 
such things? 

If you did not, it will be interesting to know that all this 
is a part of a great system of surve3dng which was estab- 
lished when our country was new, and which has governed 



190 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

such matters to the present time. Shall we not go back and 
try to understand it? It Avili be time well spent, and all we 
can learn about this subject may be of use to us in the 
future. 

Ihe great iN'orthwestern Territory became the property 
of the United States in the year 1784. It was a valuable 
addition to the ten'itory already possessed, and the question 
with statesmen comcerning it was, what steps should be 
taken to settle the country and establish civilization in the 
wilderness. 

^\^e liave seen that the most of the land belonged to the 
Indians, and that it was the policy, or plan, of the govern- 
ment to purchase it, and destroy the Indian titles. This 
must be done before the government could offer the land for 
sale, or before immigrants could settle upon it and im- 
prove it. 

Many of the Indians were opposed to the settlement of 
the country by the Americans, and refused to sell their 
lands, and the government could only get possession of cer- 
tain tracts at a time; but it was purchased as rapidly as the 
Indians would part with their titles — a tract here, another 
there, until by and by the greater portion of the Northwest- 
em Territory was under the control of the United States 
and was called "government land." 

In order to know just what territory belonged to the gov- 
ernment, and what was still the property of the Indians, it 
was necessary to have the la.nd surveyed, or measured, and 
the dividing lines distinctly marked. So, in the year 1785, 
the United States Congress paesed a law for the disposal of 
the land which had been ceded to the government by indi- 
vidual States, and had afterward been bought from the In- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA, 191 

dians. This law provided that the President should appoint 
a surv^ejor from each State, who should act under the Geog- 
rapher of the United States. This officer is nosv called the 
Surveyor-General. 

The surveyors were required to take an oath for the faith- 
ful discharge 'of their duty, for the work they were to do 
was of great importance, and concerned the welfare of mill- 
ions of people who should in future occupy the territory. 
The iirst work of the suiweyors in Indiana was to di\dde the 
Territory into townships six miles square and containing 
thirty-six square miles each. The lines which marked tliese 
townships were to run due north and south, and wore to be 
crossed by lines running due east and west, and they were 
not to conflict with the land belonging to the Indians. This 
was called the "rectangular system of survey.'^ To run 
these lines, there must be a starting point, or base, from 
which to measure. To aid in this, the government estab- 
lished lines running due north and sonth, at equal distances 
apart; these were called "Meridian Lines." The first of 
these meridians formed the boundaiy between Indiana and 
Ohio. The second meridian starts where the Little Blue 
River empties into the Ohio, and runs to the northern 
boundary of the State. 

So much of the land yet belonged to the Indians — only a 
few tracts in Southern Indiana being tlie property of the 
United States — tha/t it was found convenient to begin the 
survey on this second meridian line; so a line was nm due 
east and west, crossing the second meridian line six miles 
below the present town of Paoli, in Orange County. Froan 
the point where these two lines cross, almost all the territory 
in Indiana was surveyed. 



192 YOUNG PEOPLE S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Having found the base, or first lines of tlie survey, tlie 
territory was divided into townships, as described above, 
which were numbered progressively north and south from 
the base line, and east and west from the meridian line. Th© 
lines were measured with gTeat care, by the use of very fine 
instruments, together with a surveyor's chain, and the lines 
surveyed were mairked through the timber-lands by chop- 
ping, or ''blazing," the trees on each side. These were 
called ''line trees," or "'witness trees," When no trees were 
on the line, those nearest on both sides were "blazed" in 
such a way as pointed toward the line the surveyors had run. 
When a tree stood at the precise spot where a corner was to 
be made, as was sometimes the case, it was marked in a pe- 
culiar manner, which showed that it was a corner of a town- 
ship. When there were no trees, the sj^ot was marked by 
planting a post, or large stone, with inscriptions marked on 
it, or sometimes heaps of stones, or small mounds of earth, 
were placed at these corners, and tbeir position indicated by 
marking trees near them, and accurately describing them 
in the surveyor's notes, which were called "field notes." A 
drawing, or plat, of the sur^vey was made, describing it ex- 
actly. On these plats, or drawings, the surveyors were re^ 
quired to mai-k the location of all the mines, salt springs, 
and mill sites that came within their knowledge, and to 
mark all water courses, mountains, and other unusual things 
over which, or near wdiich their line should pass, and to 
make note of the quality of the land survey^^d. 

In the Land Ofiice at the State House in Indianapolis, 
may still be seen the drawings, together with the "field 
notes" made by these early surveyors of our State. They 
are in excellent condition, and not only show the surveys as 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 193 

1ilie\ were made, but also tlie location of lands purchased 
from the Indians from time to time, the location of 'the 
roads and canals through the State, and many other inter- 
esting things connected with the history and development 
of our State. 

When we remember the character of the country to be 
surveyed, we can form some idea of the difficulties of the 
undertaking. The country was almost as wild as the jun- 
gles of Africa — ^heavily wooded by a gigantic growtih of 
trees, and was almost impenetrable by fallen trees in every 
stage of decay, and by a thick growth of brush, plants and 
vines of almost every description. The surface of the coutn- 
try varied in character, from the hills along the Ohio River 
to the marshes of Northern Indiana, with every variety of 
soil, from the clay deposits and sand hills, to the oozy soil 
of the marsh lands. Through all this the surveyor must cut 
his way, guided by the Imerring hand of the magTietic 
needle; directly north and south, directly east and west, the 
lines must nm, no matter what obstacles stood in the way; 
over hills, through swamps, across deep, swift s'creams, he 
must follow the direction given by the little needle which 
always points toward the Xorth Star. In addition to these 
difficulties, he was in constant danger of being attacked by 
the Indians, may of whom, as we know, were opposed to 
selling the lands to the Americans, and in some instances the 
work of surveying was greatly retarded by these hostile 
bands, but in time it was completed. 

After the townships were surveyed they were divided into 

lots, called "sections." Each section was one mile square, 

and contained six hundred and forty acres of land. There 

were thirty-six of these lots, or sections, in each township, 

13 



194 YOUNG PEOPLE'3 HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and they were numbered in n-^nning order from one to 
thirty-six. The surveyoi's were required to mark the cor- 
ners of these section lines in some way by which they could 
be distinguished from the township lines, and to keep a strict 
record of them. 

A\"hen the land was opened for isale, the plats, or draw- 
ings, were placed in the hands of officers called the Bo^-rd of 
Treasury, who made a record of them. They also made 
copies of the original drawings for the commissioners of 
the Land Ofhce, who had charge of the sale of the land, and 
who were required to give notice of the sale by advertise- 
ments posted up at court-houses and other public places in 
each county, and published in one newspaper in the State. 
These advertisements were to be made from two tO' six 
months before the land was sold; they were then sold in the 
following manner: Township Iso. 1, in the fli'st row, or 
range of township's, was sold entire ; township E'o. 2, in the 
same range, or row, was sold in lots of one hundred and six- 
ty acres, or less ; ]^o. 3 was sold entire ; Iso. 4 by lots, and so 
on, in alternate order through the first range or row. Town- 
ship ]^o. 1, in the second rage, was sold by lots, and Town- 
ship ISTo. 2, in tlie same range, was sold entire; and ,so on 
through the second range. The third range of townships 
was sold in the same manner as the first, and the fourth 
in tlie same manner as the second; and thus alternately 
through all the ranges. Xo land was to be sold at a price 
less than one dollar per acre. 

Out of every township four lots were reserved for the 
Uuited States, and lot l\o. 16, in every township, was re- 
served for public school pur[)oses within the township, and 
was called "school land.'' These school lots were sometimes 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 195 

leased for a certain length of time, and the persons leasing 
them were required 'to make certain iniproveraents each 
year: that is, to clear so many acres of land, plant so many 
fruit trees, etc. The land was afterward sold and the pro"- 
ceeds placed in the school fund, and this was the heginning 
of the present school system in Indiana. 

For convenience in selling the land, each section was di- 
vided into four equal parts, called "quarter sections," each 
containing one hundred and sixty acres; these quarter sec- 
tions were again divided into eighths and sixteenths of sec- 
tions, containing respectively eighty and forty acres. Forty 
acres was the smallest amount of land sold l:»y the govern- 
ment to one person, although the purchaser might buy as 
much more as he desired. Any one, after buying the land, 
could divide it and sell aa small quantities as he chose. 
When the public land was so'ld, the land officer received the 
money and gave the purchaser a deed, or patent, for it, from 
the United States, which was recorded in the General Land 
Office. 

As the lands were surveyed and opened for settlement, 
the State was divided into "land districts," and offices 
opened in each district. There were seven of these offices 
in Indiana, and they weire located at Bl^x)kville, Yincennes, 
Jeffersonville, Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, Winamac and 
Fort Wayne. When the most of the land was sold, these 
offices were consolidated into one general land office at 
Indianapolis, and any land in the State remaining unsold 
was purchased through those in authority at this office. 

The owner of any land may sell it, and transfer it to the 
purchaser by a deed, acknowledged before a magistrate, or 
notary public, and entered in the records of the county in 



196 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

whicli it is situated. Titles to land mav be inherited bv will, 
which must be recoirded. In case there is no will, heirs to 
land must have their titles made perfect by the judge of the 
courtj after which it is recorded. AVhen land is sold in pay- 
ment for debt, the proper officer making the sale by order 
of court, conveys the title to the purchaser ia propea:* form. 
This plan keeps a perfect chain of title, which may at any 
time be traced back to the original deed, or patent. 

As we have seen, the first purchases of land made froon 
the Indians was in the southeiTi part of the State, and only 
this was surveyed. Other tracts lying north of these pu^r- 
chases were from time to time bought, surveyed and offered 
for sale; and in this way the entire territory of Indiana was 
purchased, each new purchase pushing the natives farther 
and farther toward the north, until finally they sold all of 
their land and emigrated westward, beyond the Mississippi, 
and Indiana became the property of the United States^ and 
was divided to make homes for the thousands of people who 
live within her borders. And so you will see that the lot on 
which the house you live in stands, is la part of the great sur- 
vey ordered by the United States government, which has 
been divided again and again, until it may be but a few feet 
in extent. 

Shall I tell you how near the settlers came losing the land 
upon which they had put so much hard work? After the 
land ]?urchased from the Indians had been surveyed, and a 
land office opened, it was re^dy for sale, and a man w^ishing 
to purchase, or ^'enter," land, as it was called, selected the 
tract he wished to buy, and paid to the land agent the sum 
required by the govermnent, and received a "certificate of 
purchase,'' which secured the land to him for a certain 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 197 

lengtli of time, when, if lie had met all the payments, he 
received a deed, or ^ ^patent," which made it his own, and no 
one coiild take it from him. 

The government fixed the price of land at $2 per acre, 
and one-fourth of the price of a tract of land must he paid 
when it was "entered" and the remainder in two eciual an- 

JL 

nual payments, with interest. If a settler failed to meet any 
one of these payments, he forfeited both the land and the 
money he had paid, and all his work in clearing and improv- 
ing it was lost. 

The most of the early immigrants to Indiana were veiy 
poor men; many of them had scarcely enough money to 
make the first payment on their land, and but few of them 
were able to meet the payments as they canie due. It was 
all they conld do to clear the land and raise produce for their 
own use, and if they had a surplus, there was no market for 
it. Almost the only way in which they could procure 
money was by selling the furs and skins of animals. And 
so it happened that in the year 1820, many of the settlers 
were on the point of losing their homes and all their hard 
work. 

This failure to meet their payments placed them at the 
mei'cy of the government, which had 'the power to Isell the 
lands from them; this would probably have been done, but 
for James Xoble, the United States Senator from Indiana, 
and Jonathan Jennings, Indiana's Representiative to Con- 
gress. Through their efforts laws were enacted, extending 
the time of the payments on the land, and thus enabling the 
settlers to meet them. 

When Mr. I^oble (who had worked veiy hard for this 
law) returned to his home in Indiana, the settles came long 
distances to thank hiia for saving their homes for them. 



198 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Religious Worship — New Harmony. 

Many of the pioneer settlers of Indiana were Oliristian 
men and ^vomen, -and tliey counted it among their greatest 
hardships that they must he deprived of the privilege of at- 
tending religious worship. 

Xo sooner had three or four families settled in a locality 
than they tried to have some kind of religious sendee on the 
Sabbath day. They would uieeL together at one of ttlieir 
cabins, to read their Bibles and sing and pray; perhaps some 
one would attempt a little sermon, or, perhaps a strolling 
preacher would be present, or some one would read from a 
book of sennons. 

As the settlements grew larger they would hold service 
in the school-house, and in some neighborhoods they built 
little log churches in the woods, which they called ''meeting- 
houses." Xear these little churches they would clear off a 
spot of ground, build a rail fence around it, and in this in- 
closure they would bury their dead. Xo marble shaft 
marked the gra^^e; only a rough board, on wJiich the name 
was rudely carved, told Avhere the loved one slept. 

Every Sabbath day, in winter and in summer, fathei*s, 
mothers, sons and daughters, dressed in their best home- 
spun clothes, would wend their way through the woods to 
this pLace of worship. Sometimes they went on foot, some- 
times in wagons; but the common way to travel was on 
horseback. The father and mother often rode the same 
horse, each liolding a child, sometimes two, before them, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 199 

The "nieeting-liouses" were not alwaj's comfortable 
places of worship. The rude benches were made of split 
logs without backs, into which pegs 'had been fastened for 
legs. The only heat came from the open fireplace, and in 
some cases they had no means at all of heating the room. 
Sometimes they brought iron kettles filled with live coals, 
which produced a little heat and kept them from freezing. 
Stoves were unknown in those days. The only light they 
had came through greased paper pasted over a hole cut 'in 
the wall. The cracks between the logs let in the cold, and 
sometimes the snow drifted into the barren little church. 
In summer it was not so unpleasant. The spreading 
branches of the forest trees made a gTatcful shade about the 
cabin, and the songs of the birds flitting through them were 
sweeter than the trained voices of a church choir. 

Here, too, they held their Sunday-schools, wliich were at- 
tended by both old and young. The lessons were not out- 
lined for them as they are for us, with "golden texts" and 
instructions for studvins-; indeed, that would have been of 
little use, for many of them could read but little, some of 
them not at all. Those who coidd not read, both old and 
young, brought spelling books to Sabbath-dchool, and for 
these classes were formed, and they were taught to spell and 
read. As soon as they could read a little, they were put to 
work on the Xew Testament, and were taught ito read and 
understand its lessons. 

Occasionally a traveling preacher came through the coun- 
try and stopped at the settlements; arrangements were im- 
mediately made for holding religious service. Messengers 
were sent to every family in the settlement, and they gath- 
ered at the appointed time to hear him pi'each. 



200 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Perhaps iio class of men in pioneer days was more deserv- 
ing of respect, or accomplished more gocKl, tlian those min- 
isters of the gospel, known as the ''circuit riders." They 
were called by this name because they traveled around from 
one settlement to another, and after they had visited all the 
settlements for perhaps a hundred, or it may be two hun- 
dred miles, they began over again; and from this going 
round and round, they oame to be known .as the ''circuit 
riders." 

These men devoted their lives to the cause of Christian- 
ity. They left their home« and traveled on horseback over 
the worst imaginable roads, often with no road at all, exce|>t 
the "blazed" bridle-path, or the Indian trail, and sometimes 
not even this, to guide them. The settlements v/ei'e so far 
apart that it was often impossible to travel from one to an- 
other in a day, and they were obliged to sleep in the open 
air, with no co^'ering except the broad branches of the for- 
est trees; but they were so used to hardships of this kind 
that they did not much mind it, and spent years and years 
of their lives preaching to the rough pioneer people. 

The circuit riders were not always cultured men, nor were 
they educated, except in a broad sense; but they were just 
suited to the conditions of the people, and brought to them 
the "tidings of great joy" as they journeyed tlirough the 
wilderness. They cheerfully bore all hardships, were ten- 
der and sympathetic and made themselves very pleasant and 
agTeeable to the humble pioneers, who eagerly looked for- 
waii'd to their coming. They preached the gospel in a fear- 
less manner, little heeding whom they might offend. They 
were bold in the dischare;e of dutv and attacked all forms of 
sin, without feai' oa- favor. Their sermons were very long, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 201 

often lasting two or more liours, but their audience listened 
witli no tliought that too much time was being consumed. 
The Bible was their theme. ^J'hey preached the doctrine of 
"eternal punishment" witih. a force and eloquence that held 
their hearers spell-bound. Some of them were very elo 
quent in a bold, rough way, while O'thers were truly orators. 

There was no settlement in Indiana that the circuit rideirs 
did not in some way reach, and everywhere they went a 
w^arm welcome awaited them; a seat at the fireside and a 
share of the humble meal was always gladly offered them. 
Shut in by narrow surroundings, it was a rare treat to the 
pioneers to receive in their midst one who could give them 
news from the world outside of their own settlement, and 
perhaps bring messages from friends and kindred. 

The circuit riders cared little for personal comfort. They 
were equally at home in the settler's cabin and the Indian 
wigwam. They took for their model that Savior Avhose sac- 
rifice, self-denial and fortitude they tried to imitate. They 
were often ignorant of books, but they understood the na- 
tures and needs of their uncultured hearers. They received 
no money for their labors, for the settlers were too poor to 
pay; but with no expectation of reward, they continued in 
the work of their Master, happy if they could bring souls 
to Him. 

Meetin^o were frequently held out of doors in summer 
and autumn. A rough pulpit was erected under the spread- 
ing trees, and seats were made of split logs; and here camp- 
meetings, often lasting for days, were held; and in times of 
great religious excitement, services were held both day and 
night. 

Tlie eailiest settlers in Indiana were the French Catho- 



202 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

lies, at Yincennes; Mctliodiste, Baptists, Presbyterians a.nd 
Quakers came later. Perhaps there were more Methodists 
than there were of any other religious denomination, and to 
this sect the circuit rideir belonged. 

In the year 1814 a society of Germans moved from Penn- 
sylvania and formed a settlement in Indiana, on the Wabash 
River, about fifty miles above its mouth, in what is now 
Posey County. They bought a large tract of laud and laid 
off a to^^^l, which they called Harmony. They erected a 
church and a public school house, opened farms, planted or- 
chards and vineyards, built mills, a store house and a tavern, 
as houses of public entertainment were called, and oai'ried 
on various kinds of manufactories and other industries. 

Til ere was one peculiarity 'about this settlement which 
made it different from every other settlement in Indiana — 
every thing they o^\Tied was held in common; that is, no 
man or woman o^^med a bit of land, or a house, or a store, oo* 
a cov\", or a horse, in his or her own right, but everything be- 
longed to the entire community, and was just as much the 
property of one as of another. They did their work to- 
gether, each performing his share, and the money they made 
Avas placed in one common fuiid. They drew their provis- 
ions, food, clothing, etc., from one common store; each had 
all he needed, and no one took more than his share. There 
were no idlers or drunkards among tliem; they never had 
any lawsuits, but settled all disputes among themselves be- 
fore going to sleep at night. 

The leader of tliis society was Frederick Eappe, who was 
the oldest man among them, and managed the affairs of the 
community both in and out of the church. There were 
aboiit nine hundred i>ci^ons in the settlement, land they 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 203 

lived togetlier in this peculiar and peaceful manner until the 
year 1825, when Kobert Owen, a native of Scotland, pur- 
chased the to\vn of Harmony ^and a large portion of the land 
lying near it, and the German association, under Fredeiick 
Rappe, returned to Pennsylvania. 

Robert Owen, who had peculiar ideas concerning society, 
learning and Christianity, changed the name of the town to 
Xew Harmony, and attempted to establish a community 
composed of those who were inclined to adopt his faith and 
opinions. The experiment, however, was finally abandoned, 
but not until Xew Harmony had become renowned as a 
place of refinement and learning. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Pioneer Schools of Indiana. 

In the ofiice of the State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, in the State House in Indianapolis, there hangc a large 
map of Indiana. It differs from other maps of the State, 
because it is covered with a large number of dots ^\hicli do 
not represent cities, towns and villages. Should you ask 
what they mean, you would be told that they represent the 
school-houses and colleges in Indiana. Should you try to 
count them, you would grow tired of the task, for there are 
about nine thousand of them.. 

AVhen we look at this map and remember that for every 
dot we see there is a school-house somewhere, and that there 
are about eleven hundred high schools and fifty colleges in 
the State, and that live hundred and twenty-seven thousand 



204 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

children attend tlies€ schools, and that fifteen thousand 
teachers are employed to teach them, we can scarcely realize 
that one hundred years ago ttiere was not a school in the 
thirty-five thousand nine hundred and ten square miles 
which compose our State; 'that our beautiful capital was a 
wilderness, and that other cities and towns wliich now sup- 
port large institutions of learning were unheard of. 

The people who built their cabins in the woods had little 
time to think of education. It was all they co'uld do to pro- 
vide food and clothing for their famihes. It took months to 
clear an ordinary field and get it ready for the plow. In this 
the children, and often the women, assisted, and so great 
was the importance of preparing these fields for cultivation 
that had schools been situated in their midst, the cJiildren 
who were large enough to '^pick brush" could not have been 
spared to attend. On the other hand, no matter hov/ great 
the thii'st for knowledge, it was not possible for a girl or a 
boy in Indiana to obtain an education in the State. 

By and by, when the settlements became more populous, 
and when the settlers had cleared sufilcient gro'ind to raise 
grain and yegetables for family use, and ])erhap5 a little to 
spare, some of the most ambitious began to long for the 
means of educating their children. So, a few families of 
this sort employed som.e young man or woman in the neigii- 
borhood who could read, write and spell, and perhaps knew 
something of numbers, to teach their children these accom- 
plishments. 

They would get together some fine day, and cut do^\^i 
trees and build a little cabin out of the rough, round logs, 
cover it with thick boards fastened doAvn to the roof with 
poles and wooden pegsj make a puncheon fioor, and door; 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 205 

turn almost one entire side ^of it into a liuge fire-place, witli 
a stick-and-mud cliimney; cut away a part of a log in tli© 
side for a window, over wliicli they would paste greased pa- 
per to let in the light; fasten a broad, flat log beneath the 
window^ for a writing table; make a few benches by insert- 
ing legs in auger holes made in puncheons, and larrange 
them on either side and in front of the fire-place, place one 
at the writing table, and call the structure a school-house. 

Very proud was a neighborhood of its first school-house. 
To this place of learning the pioneer cliildren wended their 
way through the woods in all sorts of weather; the little 
girls dressed in their "linsey-woolsey" gowns, made with 
long, straight skirts, with short plain waist and straight 
sleeves, gathered, into bands at the wrists. In sum.mer tliey 
wore sun-bonnets and went with bare feet. In winter they 
woa^e woolen hoods and thick leather shoes made by some 
pioneer shoe-maker. The boys wore home-spun, home- 
woven jeans trousers and coat, made after the pattern of 
their fathers^, w^itli "gallowsas" knitted of home-spun yam, 
crossed in the back and fastened to the trousers with pegs 
or wooden buttons, also made at home. On their heads they 
wore coon-skin caps, and carried their dinners in a splint, or 
willow basket, made by the light of the cabin fire. 

Quaint little pioneer men and women were they, starting 
in jnirsuit of that knowledge which was to help them solve 
the problems of life which they were soon to meet. 

Of the qualifications of the teacher, not much can be said. 
Sometimes the settlers were fortunate enough to secure the 
service of a fairly educated man or woman who had emi- 
grated from the east. If this was not possible, they took the 
material at hand, and tihat was not 'always the best. It was 



206 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

better tlian notliing, liowever, and in these little oabin 
scliool-lionses some of oar prominent and leading statesmen 
received tlie first elements of an education, Tlie hooks used 
by the first schools in Indiana were of a miscellanco'js char- 
acter; each child brought what happened to be in the fam- 
ily. The ^STew Testament and Murray's English Keader 
wm'e the common reading books. 

It was no easy task for a boy or a girl to trudge three or 
four mileSj over ice and snow, tlirough unbroken forests; tO' 
cross streams over which there were no bridges except a 
"foot log," or tree felled across the stream. Sometimes, in 
rainy seasons, the water rose so high that this bridge was 
swej^t away, and for days, perhaps, the 'children could not 
reach tlie school. 

The school-house was not always la comfortable place. 
The w^ind whistled about the little log cabin and found 
plenty of open space, or "cracks," as they were called, where 
it could creep in and chill the teacher and "scholars" in spite 
of the blazing fire in the big fire-place. Then, the seats were 
by no means comfortable; the long, straight benches had no 
backs, and often the feet of a boy or girl would not ireach 
the fioor by several inches. Here they must sit from morn- 
ing till noon with no relief except when they stood to recite 
the lessons. It was the custom in those days to .study the 
lessons aloud, and during the study hours the entire school 
would drone over spelling-book and reader, spelling *each 
word carefully and in an audible tone, or in a loud whisper. 
When the writing hour came, those Avho Avrote took seats 
on the bench by the long table at the window and followed 
tlie copy "set" by the "master" on paper or in the copy- 
book. Quill pens were used in writing. These the teacher 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 207 

made with a sharp knife, from goose quills, as the long, stiff 
feathers which grow on the wings of the goose are called. 
It was one of tlie requirements that a teacher should be able 
to make "quill pens." 

The school hours, like the working hours in those days, 
were very long, lasting in some neighborhoods from early 
morning until sunset, with but an hour, or an hour and a 
hajf, 'at noon for luncheon and recreation. The rules were 
very strict. It was believed that severe discipline was neces- 
sarv to the education, of a mrl or boy, and a lord,', islender 
switch, or a bundle of them, was a part of the sciijol furni- 
ture. These were not neglected, but were used without 
mercy upon the least provocation. The daily application of 
the "ferule" was considered by some teachers to be as nec- 
essary as the luncheon the children ate at the noon liour. 
Indeed, if either had been omitted it would pro t ably have 
been the latter. There were teachers who made regular 
tours of the room and whacked each pupil over the shoul- 
ders, whether he deserved it or not. 

Teachers were paid by their patrons, and to les^^en the ex- 
pense, they boarded among the families of the neighbor- 
hood, a week here, a week there, until they had spent a 
week with each family, and then they began all over again. 
This was called "boarding around." 

I There were often bad boys, and sometimas bad girls, who 
attended these schools and caused no end of trouble to the 
teacher, who believed that the only way to control a bad boy 
or girl was by force, and sometimes the straggle between 
teacher and pupil was long and severe. Usually tlie teacher 
was victorious, but it sometimes happened that the "back- 
woods bullies" were the winners in the game, and the 
teacher was driven from the school and from the settlement 



208 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Sometimes a skillful man or woman would take eliarge of 
a school who had a sincere desire to help tho^e placed in his 
or her charge; they would win the confidence and respect of 
the boys and girls, inspire in them a desire for learning and 
for la better life. The influence of suich a man or woman 
was felt throughout an entire neighborhood, and did much 
to lift the people out of the great sea of ignorance iu which 
they lived. Much of our advancement to-day i.^ owing to 
such persons as these, who created in the settlers a thirst 
for knowledge and a wish to better their conditions. 

Hard as the school days were for the children of early In- 
diana, there were also times of pleasure. Child nature is 
much the same the world over; race and conditions cannot 
change it, and these pioneer children also had their enjoy- 
ments. There were the pleasant spring mornings ^\hen the 
walk through the woods was a constant delight. Through 
winding paths these boys and girls would stroll, with the 
green boughs meeting over their 'heads, fragrant flowers 
blooming at their feet, wdiile l>right birds flitted through 
the branches, and the music of their voices filled the air. 
They would pause at 'the brook to watch the silver-finned 
fish as they darted about in the sunshine, or to gather the 
brightest flowers that grew beside the pathway. Every 
step was made charming and every moment was a delight. 
Perhaps some fine morning they were ,a little late in Start- 
ing, and then the fear of the master's rod sent them hurry- 
ing along, regardless of the world of beauty and song about 
them. 

Then there was the noon hour; what pleasures it l:)rought 
to the hungry boys and girls! What delight to take down 
the rough dinner baskets, which hung oai wooden pegs on 



)."!««• I 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 209 

the side of the wall. They contained no dainty hmch, I 
assure you — a piece of ^'corn dodger," it ma}' be with but- 
ter, if the family owned a cow; a slice of meat, perhaps a 
piece of pie — all very tempting to the healthful boys and 
girls who ate tlieir breakfast by the light of the tallow can- 
dle and tramped two or three miles before school time, and 
who had sat through the long hours witli feet dangling from 
high benches, longing for this blessed dinner hour. They 
were required to sit very still and quiet while they ate their 
dinner, but in spite of this rigid rule and the watchful eye 
of the teacher, there was much suppressed mirth, and sly, 
mischievous tricks were played by those who nic^naged to 
get great fun out of the occasion. 

And when they were at last set at liberty, what a rush for 
the door! What shouts and glad laughter when they 
reached the open air ! All their pent-up spirits burst forth, 
and the hour was a constant stream of enjoyment to their 
young natures. And then the games they played; there was 
"bat and ball" for the big boys; "ring-a-round-a-rosey" for 
the little girls; ''black man," and "ant'ny over," and "base" 
for the whole school. "Tag" was the parting game, while', 
doubtless, capturing and scalping imaginary Indians formed 
an amusing pastime for those heroically inclined. 

On rainy days they huddled around the fire, and guessed 
"riddles," and told stories about Indians and "ghosts" 'and 
"witches." These pastimes were carried home, and many 
an hour was whiled away by the cabin fire, telling tales of 
haunted houses, headless riders and ghosts in hmg, snowy 
robes and blood curdling stories of massacre and midnight 
slaughter, which sent both listener and narrator trembling 
to bed. 
14 



210 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Perhaps they liad tlieir disputes, as children wiil, and it 
ma}' be a fight between two big boys now and then, in which 
the teacher finally took a hand; but they were merry old 
times, with all their hardships, and many a tilled man and 
woman has in after years looked back upon them \^cth pleas- 
urable longing. 

Then there were the delightful spelling-schools, when the 
entire neighborhood went en masse 'to the little log school- 
house, which was crowded to the very door with men, 
w^oinen amd children. Perhaps it was a spelling match be- 
tAveen two rival schools, or neighborhoods. Then there was 
great excitement. They came for miles around, in sleds 
drawn, not by swift-footed steeds to the music of jingling 
bells, but by patient, mild-eyed oxen, or plodding work- 
hoi'ses, mth perhaps a cow or sheep bell to keep time to their 
slow footsteps. 

The hour for beginning having come, leaders were select- 
ed to ^^choose up,'' or divide the people into two companies, 
rajnged on opposite sides of the school-hou^e, \\diich was 
lighted by tallow candles and by the blazing wood fire. The 
words were pronounced from a spelling-book by the teacher, 
or some one chosen for the purpose. Those who missed a 
word took their seats; by tand by there would bo but a few 
spellers left on 'either side, and finally, if well matched, only 
the two best spellers would remain standing, Then the ex- 
citement £rrew intense; breathlessly each side watched its 
champion, and a shout went up from the victorious side as 
the opponent went down. How some of those pioneers 
could spell! It often happened that page after page of the 
spelling-book would be learned ^'by heart" and sometimes 
recited word for word by some ambitious speller. It was a 
worthy lambition, now much fallen into decay. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 211 

And then the merry home-going! How they piled into 
the sleds with happy laughter, amid shouts of "good-bye" 
to friends and neighbors! How deep the shadows lay under 
the trees; how the (silver moonbeams gleamed among the 
bare branches, and how the snow glistened in the soft silver 
light I How their voices rang out on the clear iiiglit air as 
some familiar song was sung, and how the plodding oxen 
half paused to listen to tire music! Ah, there were merry 
times in the olden days, in spite of the hardships, toil and 
anxietv. 

Ey and by the interest in education increased amc^ng the 
settlers. Better school-houses were built; plain wooden 
ones, to be sure, but they answered well the purpose for 
which they Avere erected. The early teachers were not al- 
ways finished scholars, but they usually manag(Kl to instill 
into the minds of their pupils a genuine respect for learning. 

The course of study in those early times was very differ- 
emt from that pursued by the boys and girls of to-day. To 
read, to write, to spell and to ^'cipher'' a little was considered 
an average education, while a girl or a boy who had studies] 
grammar and geography was quite looked up to, and con- 
sidered suliiciently educated to ^'kecp school." 

The opportunities for reading and studying at home 
were very limited, indeed. The family library consisted, 
perhaps, of a half dozen books — the Bible, a hymn book, a 
book of religious poems, with perhaps Bunyam^s '^Pilgrim's 
Progress," a Bible dictionars^ and Fox's Book cf .Martyrs, 
to give variety to the collection. By borrowing and reading 
all the books in the neighboriiood, a boy or girl of that pe- 
riod was able, if he or she chose, to gather a little fund of 
information which formed the basis of an education Avhich 
future circumstances might enable him or her to complete. 



212 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

It sometimes happened tliat the settlers encouraged their 
children by taking a hand at mental improvement them- 
selves. Geography schools and grammar schools were some- 
times held in the school-house or the ''jneetirg-house/' 
where, seated around the open fire, the pioneers pored over 
the mysteries of tJie subject before them. 

Y^e already know of the spelling schools, and that to be 
the best speller in the neighborhood was a distinction to bo 
coveted. Debating societies were formed, with ■•constitu- 
tion and by-laws,'' and after a hard day's work the settler 
and his family would meet their neighbors at the little 
school-house to hear the important questions of the day dis- 
cu^ised with ^^backwoods elo(|uence." Subjects of l)oth so- 
cial and political importance were thoroughly investigated, 
i^ational problems were debated and settled in a masterful 
style, quite to their satisfaction. The slavery question, the 
temperance cause, questions relating to banks and banking, 
to tariff 'and taxation — these, as well as many scientific and 
social subjects, occupied the attention of these pioneer 
orators. 

Some of these debaters became noted among their neigh- 
bors for their eloquence, clearness, force and excellence of 
language, as well as for ingenuity in argument, and wit, 
humor and power of expression. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 213 

CHAPTER XXL 

Public School System. 

The mse mein who framed the laws wliich were to govern 
the State, looking far into the future, when the wilderness 
should become a great and densely populated countrj, real- 
ized that knowledge is necessary to happiness, and laid the 
foundation for the present system of education in Indiana. 

As far back in history as the year 1785, after the con- 
quest of the Xorthwestern Territory by George Rogers 
Clark, Congress passed an ordinance, which is nothing more 
than a law for the government of a certain territory, which 
declared that one square mile in every township in the 
Xorthwestem Tei'ritory should be set apart for the main- 
tenance of public schools. 

l\vo years later a new^ ordinance or law was passed by 
Congress for the government of the same territory, which 
confirmed this policy and declared that "relio^ion, morality 
and knowledo^e are essential to <rood o:overnment and the 
happiness of a peo23le," and that schools and the means of 
an education should forever be encouraged in the new Terri- 
tory. This is called the ^^ordinance of 1787," and is the 
same law which declared that slavery should not exist in the 
Territor^^ To these two great principles laid down for us 
by those long ago dead statesmen, we owe much of our hap- 
piness and prosperity. 

While Indiana w^as still a territory, the subject of estab- 
lishing schools was often brought before the people by the 
Crovernors and friends of education, but owing to the many 



214 YOUNG PEOPLE S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

difficulties wliicli stood in the way, no regular system could 
be adopted. Tlie constant danger from tlie savages^ and 
tlie liard struggle for existence, left the settleirg but little 
time for other matters, however im}3ortant. In 1807, the 
TeiTitorial Legislature passed an act to incorporate the Yin- 
cennes University, and Governor Harrison was made a 
member of the Board of Trustees. The following year, a 
law was made giving courts the power to lease the lands 
which had been reserved in each township for school pur- 
poses. These leases were not to be for longer than five 
years, and the jDcrsons leasing the land were required to in- 
crease its value by clearing at least ten acres en every quar- 
ter section, or one hundred and sixty acres, and they were 
not allowed to waste valuable timber. 

The Constitution of 1816 required the State Legislature 
to provide suitable laws for the management of school land, 
and to prevent its sale before the year 1820. It also re- 
quired that laws should be made to provide for the security 
and use of all the school funds, and that a general system of 
education should be established, which should embrace all 
grades of scholarship, from the common scliools zo a State 
L^niversity, wherein tiution should be free to all. 

lor a long time after Indiana became a State, little or 
nothing was done toward establishing a public school sys- 
tem. The chief difficulty was the lack of money with 
which to build schooHiouses and employ teachers. Thero 
Avere thousands of acres of land belonging to the school 
fund, l)ut there was very little money. Then thea'c were 
but few capable teachers, either in the toAvns or country, and 
the population of the school districts was small. BesidcQ 
all this, many of the settlers did not see the necessity of edu- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 215 

eating tlieir cliildren, and were utterly indifferent to the 
matter, while a few were positively opposed to it; then, the 
children were needed at home, to assist in the clearings and 
in the fields at planting season and in gathering in the crops, 
and for other work, so there was little time for study. 

Xotwitlistanding these obstacles, several academies and 
library associations were established within a few years, and 
the Legislature provided for the appointment of superin- 
tendents of each school section, who were authorized to lease 
the school lands for any term not longer than ten years. 
]\rany a battle of words was fought on the floor of the Legis- 
lature before a final school system became fixed and per- 
manent. 

Many of the settlers of Indiana came from States which 
had no public schools, and they were opposed to taxing 
themselves to educate other people's children. Many of 
them were uneducated and could see no necessity of a public 
school system. As late as the year 1850, the census showed 
that there were in Indiana, nearly sevent}'-five thousand 
people over the age of twenty-one who could not read. 
"Forty thousand voters could not read the ballot tkey voted, 
and nearly thirty-five thousand mothers could not teach 
their children the alphabet.'' 

Since the adoption of the State Constitution in 1816, the 
subject of common schools has been constantly agitated, and 
la\^'s relating to them have from time to 'time been made. 
About tlie year 1815, the Legislature passed a law estab- 
lishing a free school system, with tlie provision that it should 
not be enforced except in such counties as adopted it by 
the vote of the people. So unpopular was the cause of edu- 
cation in those days, that nearly half the counties in the 



216 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

State rejected it. But the friends of education, altlioiigh 
meeting with much to discourage them, continued to agitate 
the question until they had enlightened the people so that 
they saw the necessity, as well as advantage, of a good sys- 
tem of public schools. 

"We have talked so much of the public school system, and 
the school fund, that perhaps it would be well to see just 
what is meant by these terms. The word "aystem" means 
regular method, or order; and a "school system" means the 
plan, or order by which the schools are conducted. The 
word "fund" comes from the Latin, and means bottom, or 
foundation. The "school fund" of Indiana is the money 
set apart for the use of schools. It is the foundation of pub- 
lic education. The school s^^stem would be of little use 
were it not for this fund which makes it possible to carry out 
the plan of education. 

The school fund of Indiana is so guarded by the Consti- 
tution, which we understand to be the supreme law of the 
State that it can be used for no other purpose. This fund 
amounted to $10,303,184.01 June 1, 1808. This large 
sum of money has been divided among the ninety-two coun- 
ties of the State, according to their population, and has been 
loaned upon real estate so that each one liundred dollars 
brings in three dollars every six months. This interest, as 
it is called, is expended for the support of the public schools, 
and for the year ending June 1, 1898, it amo'unted to 
$608,186.24. 

There are two school funds. The oldest is known as the 
"Congressional Township Tuncl," because when Congi^ess 
made the law wdiich enabled Indiana to become a State, it 
set apart for the support of public schools in every township 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 217 

the section of land numbered "sixteen." We have seen that 
a section is a square mile, and that there are thirty-six 
square miles in a township, so that by this law, one thirty- 
sixth part of all the land in the State wais set apart ior pub- 
lic education. 

^Ve know how the land was rented or leased, and the pro- 
ceeds expended in schools, but at that early day, land was so 
cheap that very few persons would rent land that was not in 
a condition for tillage, and the revenue for school^ was so 
small, that in 1827, the Legislature asked Congress to give 
the inhabitants of each township the authority to sell the 
lands, and make a fund of the proceeds, the interest of 
which should be devoted to the support of schools. 

At the present price of lands, the receipts from such a 
sale would amount to many millions of dollars; but only 
$3,487,806 were received for 655,478 acres of land. This 
fund which belongs to the townships, is managed by county 
officers, but they are required to satisfy the Superintendent 
of Fublic Instruction that the interest is collected and ex- 
pended for schools. 

The otlier fund is called the "Common School Fund," 
and it is derived from various sources. In 1836 Congress 
found a large amount of money in the Federal treasury for 
which it had no use. It came to be called "the surplus 
re Avenue." This sui'plus revenue seemed to trouble Con- 
gress so much that it decided to loan it to the respective 
States in proportion to their population, to be paid back 
when wanted by the United States. That loan has never 
been called for and never will be. Indiana's share was 
$860,254, of which $537,502 were turned into the common 
school fund. 



218 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

Then there is the ''County Seminary Fund/' which was 
derived from the sale of two townships of land donated by 
Congress for the support of seminaries. The proceeds from 
the sale of this property were turned into the common school 
fund, under an act of 1852. The county seminary fund 
reeeived all fines imposed for violation of the penal law^s, 
and this sum, altliough not large, was also turned over to the 
common school fund. The receipts from the sale of salt 
springs in the State, which is known as the ''Saline Fund," 
added $85,000 to the school fund in 1832. 

The most important of the common school funds is known 
as the "Sinking Fund." What is a "sinking fund?" you 
would ask. I will try to explain. If a corjioration, which 
may mean a State, or a city, or a company, borrows a large 
amount of money which is due a,t the end of a stated term 
of years, it provides that a certain amount shall be set apart 
each year, and put at interest, so that the .i mount of the 
sums set apart, together with the interest, Avill be sufficient 
to pay the debt when it becomes dues. This money is 
called a "sinlving fund," prolvably because when it is large 
enough, it "sinks" or pays the debt. 

In 1834, the Legislature passed a law to establish a State 
Bank, one-half of the stock to be owned by the State, the re- 
mainder by individuals. By this law, the Legislature gen- 
erously agreed to furnish the money to shareholders who 
were unable to meet their payments, taking their stock as 
security. The Legislature could not tell how much money 
would be needed for this purpose, from year to year, so each 
session appropriated the sum considered necessary. Often 
more money was voted thaii was needed; the remainder was 
called an "unexpended balance." These balances, with all 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 2 19 

the money received from shareholders for the advance made 
by the State, was made a sinking fund. When the bank 
was established, the State borrowed $3,000,000 to pay her 
portion of the stock, and this sinking fund was used to pay 
this debt; but it was more than enough, and the balance, 
which amounted to $4,255,731.87, was devoted to the com- 
mon school fund. The children of Indiana owe a debt of 
gratitude to John Beard, ^'a. plain old farmer from Mont- 
gomery county," who managed to have the bill which pro- 
vided for the payment of this debt, so amended that all that 
remained of this fund after the loan was paid, should be a 
permanent fund for common school education. In addi- 
tion to tliis sinking fund, the ''Bank Tax Fund'' yielded a 
snuall amount which was appropriated to the common school 
fund. 

The State Constitution of 1851 not only placed the school 
fund beyond the reach of legislative action, but added to it 
all lands and estates which ©hall be forfeited to the State for 
want of heirs — all lands that have been, or shall hereafter 
be gTanted to the State, including the sale of swamp lands 
granted to the State by Congress, in 1850, after deducting 
the expense of drainage. The total of all these funds 
makes a large sum of money, which is increased each year 
by the fines imposed for violation of the laws. The com- 
mon school fund, like the congressiopual school fund, is ap- 
portioned among the counties and loaned upon real estate. 

In addition to the public schools of Indiana, there are 
numerous colleges and schools of higher education scattered 
over the State. The majority of these aire denominational, 
that is, they are established and maintained by some re- 
ligious denomination. The State has three colleges, or in- 



220 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

stitiitioTis of learning, for tlie support of which the Legisla- 
ture maJves appropriations; these are, the State University at 
Blooniington, charteired as saicli in 1838; Purdue Univer- 
sity, at Lafayette, opened for instruction in the natural sci- 
ences, engineering, and agriculture in 1874; and the In- 
diana State Xonnal School, which was establishel in 1865, 
foi* the professional training of teachers. 

Among the denominational schools may be mentioned 
that of Earlham College, established and maintained by 
the Society of Friends, ^ait Kichmond, Indiana; DePauw 
University, Greencastle, which is the great Methodist school 
of tlie State; Hanover College, at Hanover, and Wabash 
College, at Crawfordsville, both of which are under Presby- 
terian management; Butler University, at Irving ton, under 
the control of the Christian Church, and Frank Jin College, 
at Franklin, under Baptist rule. The Catholic Church has 
a numJjer of schools in the State, among which is that of 
Notre Dame, a college for boys, at South Bend, and St. 
Mary's Institute, a school for girls, at Terre Haute. The 
Pose Polytechnic Institute is also located at Terre Haute. 
The Culver ^Military Academy, on Lake ^vlaxiukuckee, in 
Marshall county, is the only military school in Indiana and 
one of the largest in the United States. 



CHAPTEK XXII. 

Indianapolis the State Capital. 

After Indiana became a State, Congress dcnattd four sec- 
tions of land, or 2,5 oO acres, for the establishment of a per- 
manent State Capital, and in January, 1820, the Legisla- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 221 

ture appointed nine men as commissioners, tc select the loca- 
tion, wliicli could be made from any unsold lands in the 
State. 

Only five of these commissioners accepted tlie appoint- 
ment, and in tlie spring tliey traversed White Fiver Valley, 
to find a suitable location for the capital of th-^^ State, and 
very naturally came to different conclusions. They had 
been instructed by Governor Jennings to meet at the house 
of William Conner, near Noblesville, in HamiHon county, 
to decide the matter. This they did ooi May 22, 1 820. 

What was said about the different locations p roposed, we 
shall never know, but when it came to a deciding vote, the 
choice fell upon the eiast bank of White Kiver, near the 
mouth of Fall Creek, witliin a few miles of the geograph- 
ical center of the State. The spot selected was in the heart 
of a magnificent forest, on what appeared to be a perfectly 
level plain. It was many miles from any settlement, the 
nearest store being at Connersville, sixty miler2 away. It 
had little to recommend it except that it was near the center 
of the State, and was surrounded by a fertile country. 

When the Legislatm-e met at Corydon the following win- 
ter, the commissioners made their report, and on January 6, 
1821, the choice was confirmed. Then cam.e the selection 
of e name for the new capital. Many were suggested, 
among them that of Tecumseh, but all were laughed at, and 
voted down. The name Indianapolis was suggested by 
Judge Jeremiah Sullivan, of Jefferson county. This, too, 
was at first laughed at, but it grew in favor as its meaning 
came to be understood. The Greek word "polls'' means 
city; and "Indiana-polis" means the City of Indiana, which 
indicates to all the world, its location, and in a manner its 



222 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

importance; and so it was decided to call the new capital 
Indianapolis — a name of wliicli we are now very proud. 

The same Legislature appointed three coinniLroioners to 
lay off the town. They were to meet on the first Monday 
in April, 1821, and were instructed to appoint the neces- 
sary assistants, survey and lay off the town, make two maps 
of the plat, and advertise and sell alternate lots as soon as 
possil)le. The proceeds from the sale of lots were to be 
used as a building fund. 

Of the commissioners appointed, only Judge Christopher 
Harnson came, but he was not deterred froin discharging 
liis duty by the failure of the others. He appointed Elias 
P. I'ordham and Alexander Ralston, surveyors, and Benja- 
min I. Blythe, clerk, and with them proceeded to lay out the 
new city — a city in name only. 

The plat of the new capital was beautiful. It was laid off 
on a magnificent scale which reflected credit upon Mr. Har- 
rison and his assistants. In the center was a circle contain- 
ing about four acres. This was sujroimdf^d by a street 
eighty feet Avide: Radiating from this circle Avere four 
avenues, extending toward the northeast, northv/est, south- 
east and southwest. The first street south of the circle Avas 
made one hundred and tAventy feet Avide and was called 
Washington street. The remainder of the city, which Avas 
a mile square, Avas laid off in blocks of four huTidred and 
twenty feet, separated by Avide streets and alleys. The city 
Avas bounded by East, West, I^orth and South streets. Lo- 
cations Avere selected for public buildings. Avhich were to be 
surrounded, or inclosed by beautiful parks. 

It was very attractive, and very artistic — on paper. The 
reality bore but little resemblance to the drawing. The 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 223 

ground was covered mth a lieavj growth of native forest 
trees, with thickets of underwood, which were full of wild 
game. Through the woods flowed a trouhlesome stream 
called ^Togue's Creek/' after the man who is said to have 
first settled here, and who was afterward killed bv the In- 
dians. There was little promise of a great city in this wil- 
derness. The surveyors completed their work, however, 
and the lots were advertised for sale; but there was little 
demand for them. Money was very scarce, and there was 
still danger from the Indians, besides the locality was very 
imhealthful. The few families who had settled there, were 
stricken with chills and fever, a disease wh'ch continued to 
^dsit them at stated seasons for many years. 

Washington street was but an opening cat through the 
woods, full of stumps, heaps of logs and tangled brush, and 
so grown up in underwood that it was impossible to see from 
one side to the othej', and very difficult to cross ic. Other 
sti'eets were invisible ; sidewalks were not thought of. There 
was very little, indeed, to induce people to come to the city 
that was }'et to be car\^ed out of the woods. 

But with all these disadvantages, a few settlers came, and 
in 1822, there were thirty or forty dwellings, mostly built 
of logs, a few shops and about ^yq husidred in]iabitants. 
The nearest postoffice was at Connei'sville, and a man was 
employed by the citizens to carry the mail from that place. 
In 1S22 the first postoffice was established. One day in 
April, a young man covered mth mud, came riding through 
the woods at a gallop, blowing a horn. Tie cairried the first 
United States mail to Indianapolis. His arrival had been 
expected and the entire population turned out to welcome 
him. He dismounted from his horse, his saddle-bags were 



224 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

opened, and found to contain about a dozen letters. It was 
a great day for the capital city. 

About the same time the postoffice was established, the 
first newspaper made its appearance. It was called The 
Gazette, and was published about every two wrecks, or when- 
ever the editor could find enough news to fill it. The Leg- 
islature donated ground and appropriated money to build a 
court house which was to be used by the General Assembly 
until a State House should be built. The trees were cut 
down and cleared from the ground where now stands Ma- 
rion County Court House; the building was begun and fin- 
ished in time for the meeting of the General Assembly in 
1825. A jail was also built out of hewn logs. In ISTovem- 
ber, 1824, the State Capital was removed from Cory don to 
Indianapolis. The books and other State property were 
brought in a wagon, and it required ten day& to make the 
journey, a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles. 

The Legislature met for the first time in the new capital, 
January, 1825, and continued to hold its annual sessions in 
the court house for ten years. The House of Eepresenta- 
tives met on the first floor, the Senate up-stairs. 

In tlie original plan of the city, the ''circle'' was intended 
as a place for the Governor's residence, and for many years 
it was called 'The Governor's Circle." The Legislature 
made an appropriation for the purpose of erecting a house in 
the center of the grounds, and ordered that the Governor's 
Circle be inclosed by an "elegant and tasteful rail fence;" 
but it was soon seen that it was not an appropriate place for 
a residence, and the building was never completed; it was 
used for various purposes, and for many years was occupied 
by Judge Isaac Blackford as ofi[ice and sleeping rooms, then 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 225 

torn down, and the Governor's Circle was used as a pasture 
for cows. !Not until 1SG7, Avas it properly enclosed, trees 
planted, walks made and its name changed to "Circle Park." 
This name it retained until the erection of the present mag- 
nificent monument, of which we shall have jnore to say. 

The idea of providing a house for the family of the Gov- 
ernor was not abandoned, and in 1S39 a spacious residence 
situated in the midst of lao-ge and beautiful grounds on the 
northwest corner of Market and Illinois streets was pur- 
chased and used for this purpose. After a time, it came to 
be considered an unhealthful location, because of its defec- 
tive drainage. The wife of Governor Whitcomb died 
tliere, as did also the first and second wife of Governor 
AVright. Other families suffered ill health while there, 
and on this account. Governor Morton removed his family 
to the Bates House, in 1864, and the Governoa^s residence 
was sold. The place where it stood is now filled with busi- 
ness blocks. 

There were no bridges across "White River unill 1834; at 
the foot of Washington street, was a ferry boat which w^^s 
used to carry people across the river. There v^as much 
more water in the streams than there is now, and the citizens 
cherished the hope that White River could be made na^d- 
gable for boats as far as Indianapolis; indeed, a little 
steamer named the "Robert Ilanna," did arrive during a 
period of high water, to the great delight of the inhabitants, 
and plans w^ere proposed to improve the river, but were 
found impracticable, and were finally abandoned. 

A stage route was opened from Madison to Indianapolis 
in 1828, over the Michigan road, and was afterward con- 
tinued to Michigan City. This opened communication with 
15 



226 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

the outer world and tlie arrival of the first stage coach was 
an occasion of great rejoicing. 

In 1831, it began to be felt that the State could affoa^d a 
capitol building, and the General xissembly took steps in 
this direction. The forest trees which grew where the 
present State House stands, were cut down end barned, the 
rubbish cleared away and a stone building two hundred 
feet long and one hundred feet wide was begun the follow- 
ing year, and completed in 1835. It was considered a very- 
fine building and people came for many miles to see it. The 
ground about it was elevated, and locust and other rapidly 
growing trees took the place of the grand old oaks and pop- 
lars that had been cut down and destroyed. The little city 
in the woods struggled along without \eT-y rapid growth, 
visited by occasional floods and wind storms and besieged 
regularly by chills and fever at certain seasons of the year, 
until the coming of the Madison Railroad, October 1, 1847. 

The arrival of the first train in Indianapolis was witnessed 
by thousands of people from the towns and country around, 
many of whom traveled long distances on horse- back, to be 
present on this great occasion. The most of them had 
never. seen the cars, and could not be made to believe that a 
locomotive could actually travel at so great a speed as 
twenty miles an hour. This train brought many excur- 
sionists from Franklin, and other points, who united with 
the citizens in celebrating the occasion. There was also a 
circus in town that day, and this, too, joined in a general 
procession, and the forest city witnessed such a scene as it 
will never witness again. Governor Whitcomb made a 
speech from the top of a car, and at night the town was 
"brilliantly" illuminated. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 227 

The Madison Railroad Company built a depot on South 
street, east of Pennsylvania street; this cansed some dissatis- 
faction because it was "too far out of town;" by and by, 
when other roads came, a union depot was built where now 
stands the elegant Union Station. 

From the completion of the first railroad, ihe town began 
to grow very rapidly. In 1840 the population was esti- 
mated at 6,500; other railroads were built centering here, 
and the coamtry town began to put on "city airs." 
Churches, theatres and school-houses increased in number; 
business blocks were built; the streets were lighted by gas; 
handsome residences were erected, and there Avas a steady 
growth in wealtli and population, which has conlmued until 
the present time. 

In 1864," the first street car track was laid on Illinois 
street north of the Union Depot. The first car, which was 
drawn by horses, was driven by the Mayor of the rity of In- 
dianapolis, with the city officers as passenger^. In 1877 the 
Legislature passed a law authorizing the erection of a new 
State House. The old building was torn aw9y and the 
present magnificent Capitol erected. It was coj»ipleted in 
1888, 'at la cost of $1,980,969. 

And so the city has continued to develop; electric street 
cars have taken the place of the old hoarse, or mule cars; 
swift, blooded steeds, and the silent bicycle glide over miles 
and miles of asphalt pavements where once the patient oxen 
struggled through the mud and mire. Elegant residences 
have taken the place of log, or frame dwelling?; brilliant 
electric lights make the nights almost as light as day. A 
monument, the greatest ever erected in honor of the sol- 
diers of any co<untry, stands in the Governor's Circle, where 



228 YOUNG PEOPLE'3 HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

once the peaceful cows grazed undisturbed. The sickly, 
muddy town, situated in the heart of the forest in central 
Indiana has become one of the most beautiful cities in 
America — a great railroad center, with its commerce reach- 
ing beyond the shores of our continent. With a popula- 
tion of but 500 in 1822, it now boasts of 200,000 inhab- 
itants. It is a city of which every "Iloosier" boy and girl 
may well be proud. 



CHAPTER XXTII. 

Internal Improvement System — Black Hawk War. 

The condition of the settlers continued to improve. More 
settlements w^ere fomied, greater fields were cleared and 
cultivated, more stock and produce were raised than were 
used to supply the needs of the settlers; so the farmers be- 
gan to look about for a market for the surplus produce. The 
great market place of the country was Xew Orleans, which 
could only be reached through the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers. 

When a farmer wished to sell his grain or other produce, 
he took it to some town on the Ohio River, and sent it in 
barges or flat-boats to Xew Orleans, and from there it was 
shipped in sailing vessels to the Eastern States, or to foreign 
coimtries. The only way the farmer had to send his pro- 
duce to this market was by the streams which ilow into the 
"Wabash and the Ohio Rivers, and these were so small tliat 
they could only be navigated by the smallest boats, during 
one or two months in the year. 

To reach the Ohio River in any way excepr on hor«e-back, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 229 

was almost an impossibility. The coimtry was hellj in 
need of roads, and other means of transportiijg [ roduce and 
of opening communication with other States and towns; for 
no matter how rich and fertile a coiintry maj be, it is of 
little value without a market for its produce, and it cannot 
fully develop imless its inhabitants have intercourse with 
other countries and people. 

The roads in early Indiana defy descriptiou. Travel 
other than by water was confined to horse-back riding over 
the old Indian trails, or blazed road-ways. It is said that 
Bishop Kemper was nine days in traveling from Indianap- 
olis to Logangport, 'a distance of little more than a hundred 
miles. 

As early as 1822, Indiana and Illinois together began to 
form plans to improve the rapids in the AVaba^h Eiver, be- 
low the city of LaFayette, and the following year the Legis- 
latures of these two States discussed the subject of uniting 
the Wabash and Maumee Rivers by building a canal from 
one to the other. William Hendricks, who was the second 
Governor of Indian-a, said, in a message to (he Legislature, 
"Let us not lose sight of those great objects to which the 
means of the State should at some future day be devoted — 
the navigation of the Falls of the Ohio, the improvement 
of the Wabash and AYhite Rivers and other streams, and the 
construction of the iSTational and other roads through the 
State." James B. Ray, who became Governor in 182 5, ad- 
vocated the same policy, and for more than ten years the 
people and leading men of Indiana discussed the (]uestion 
of providing by law, for the commencemeni of a State sys- 
tem of public improvements. Railroads Avere beginning to 
be built in the East; and the great Erie Can^l had just beeu 



230 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

completed, whicli encouraged the people in their desire to 
improve the highways and water-ways, that they might pro- 
vide means of communication and transportation. 

Land estimated to be worth over $1,250,000 was granted 
to the State by the general government, to aid in building 
the Erie and Wabash Canal, which was to connect the Wa- 
bash River and Lake Erie, and to make a road from Lake 
Michigan through Indianapolis to Madison, on tlie Ohio 
River. In 1830 the State began to construct this road, and 
two years later, work was begun on the Yv^abash and Ei^ie 
Canal. This canal was to begin at some point on the Lower 
Wabash, or the Ohio River at Evansville, extend across the 
State and connect with the Erie Canal in the State of Oliio. 
A portion of the land which the general government had 
given for the purpose of constructing this canal, was sur- 
rendered to Ohio on condition that that State should con- 
struct the canal from the Indiana line to Lake Ene. 

This work was commenced during Governor Ts oble's ad- 
ministration in 1832, and thirty-two miles of it placed under 
contract. During the years 1834 and 1835, the work Avas 
rapidly pushed forward; it was begun at the St. Joseph 
River and was completed to the forks of the Wabash River, 
in 1835. 

The subject of providing for a general system of "in- 
ternal improvements," as it was called, continued to agitate 
the minds of tlie people. Again and again it wa^ brought 
up in the Legislature, but nothing was done until the year 
1836, when a law was passed adopting a magnificent scheme 
of improving the State. This law provided that eight dif- 
ferent works, consisting of pike roads, railroads and canals 
daovld be begun and completed withooit de^ay ; and a Board 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 231 

of Public "Works was created tO' superintend tbe work of 
construction. The people were delighted at the passage of 
this law. Bonfires were kindled and jollifications held in 
every county which was to be benefited by tlie proposed 
improvements. 

But the law was not passed without opposition. There 
were prudent and cautious men who feared the State might 
not be able to meet the expense of this great undertaking. 
Eighteen members of the House of Representatives and 
about bne-third of the Senate voted against the bill; but 
they became unpopular with the people, who did not doubt 
the success of the enterprise, and when it came to electing a 
Governor the following year, John Dumont, a Senator from 
Switzerland county who was opposed to the State ImpTove- 
ment law, Avas defeated by David AVallace who favored it. 

The financial affairs of the State seemed to be in a sound 
condition and men were put to work surveying the different 
roads and canals. The improvements which tlie law de- 
clared should be made were in eight separate di^dsions: 
First, the White Water Canal, which extended from White 
Water Biver to Lawrenceburg, together with some connect- 
ing branches. Second, the Central Canal, to commence at 
the Wabash and Erie Canal, between Fort Wayne and Lo^ 
gansport, extending by way of Indianapolis and the valley 
of the West Fork of White Biver to the junction of the two 
forks of White Biver, thence to Evansville and tlie Ohio 
Biver. Third, an exteubion of the Wabash and Erie Canal, 
from the mouth of the Tippecanoe Biver, down the Wabash 
valley to Terre Haute, thence by way of Eel Biver to con- 
nect with the Central Canal in Knox Count v. Fourth, a 
railroad to extend from Madison througli Columbus, In- 



232 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

dianapolis and Crawfordsville, to LaFayette. Fifth, a mao- 
adamized tiiirnpike from near Fredericksburg to Yincennes, 
tlirongli Paoli, ^It. Pleasant and AVasliington. Sixth, a 
raUroad, if practicable after a survey, from Jeff ersonville to 
Crawfordsville, by way of Xew Albany, Salem, Bedford, 
Bloomington and Greencastle. If not practicable, then a 
turnpike over the same route to begin at Scdem. Seventh, 
to improve the Wabash Piver from Yincennes to its mouth. 
Eighth, a canal, or railroad from the AVabasli and Erie 
Canal near Fort Y^ayne, to Lake Michigan at, or near Mich- 
igan City, by way of Goshen, Soutli Bend and LaPorte. 

By this system all parts of the State were to be benefited. 
The entire length of these roads and canals was 1,285 miles, 
and it was estimated that the cost would be about $20,000,- 
000. The Legislature appropriated $10,000,000, and the 
State issued bonds to that amount. Contracts for building 
the ca.nals and roads were let, and the woi*!.-: begun on every 
department. 

Tlie people went wild wdth excitement. Tbey believed 
tliat when these works were completed, the proceeds derived 
from them would be so great, and so fill the State treasuiy 
that it would no longer be necessary to tax the people for 
the maintenance of the State government, and they confi- 
dently looked forward to a time of ease and prosperity. 
They believed that the value of property would greatly in- 
crease, and everybody wanted to get rich by buv'ing and 
selling land. Land speculation was the rage. Y^hen the 
people had no money they w^ent in debt to buy land and 
other property, believing that the price woidd advance, and 
they would make money by selling later. At no time in the 
history of Indiana was there so much speculation^ and at no 
time was money so plenty. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 233 

The E'ational Road from Riclimond to Indianapolis and 
the lEichigan Roard from Indianapolis north, were one 
stream of travel. Every house on these roads became a 
tavern for the accommodation of the land buyers and ad- 
venturers, and so great was the travel that it was difficult to 
get food for horses, or a place w^here a tired man might rest ; 
they were often glad to take the puncheon floor of a cabin 
for a bed. But with all this travel, and with all this money 
in circulation through the country, a robbery v;as never 
heard of, although it was known that almost every settler 
possessed large sums of money. 

But the people who expected such grand results from the 
internal improvement system, were doomed to disappoint- 
ment. There were errors in legislation, and there were misr- 
takes made in defining the duties and power of the State 
Board of Internal Improvements, wdiich caused great dis- 
satisfaction, especially in localities through which the lines 
of roads and canals did not pass; and although the Governor 
and the Legislature recommended careful management and 
strict economy in conducting the work, there was great ex- 
travagance and waste. After a struggle of several years in 
which but 281 miles of the proposed 1,285 were finished, 
and a debt of many nnllions of dollars incurred the entire 
scheme fell throu^ih. 

There were several causes which helped to produce this 
failure — the greater in the history of the Siato. Among 
them were unwdse legislation, extravagance in mar.aging the 
funds, mistakes in organizing the State Board of Internal 
Improvement, and the great financial distress which swept 
over the United States in 1837; but perhaps one of the 
greatest causes of the failure of the scheme wa^ the conaing 
of railroads. 



234 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Contracts for building the public works in Indiana had 
been made and a part of the work done on all of them. The 
White AVater Canal Avas opened for navigaKon from Law- 
renceburg to Connersville; the Madison Eailroad was fin- 
ished to Griffith's Station, neair Elizabethtown. The cost 
of constructing the roads and canals had been far greater 
than was estimated. The proceeds from the sale of the 
canal lands did not meet the expectation, and when the 
panic of 1837 came, it was impossible to borrow money and 
the State Avas almost bankrupt and its credit almost ruined. 

The contractors on the public works suspended operations 
and finally abandoned their contracts. This c?.used gTcat 
distress, and not only threw hundreds of laborers out of em- 
ployment, but left them without pay for work already done. 
The State was without means of paying the debt it owed; it 
could not even pay the interest on the debt, and was forced 
to surrender to some of its creditors, large tracts of land and 
some of the works that had been begun, for one-half the in- 
debtedness, and issue new bonds for the remainder. It was 
many years before the people were relieved of this great 
burden of debt, which amounted to several millions of 
dollars. 

In order to provide the means for paying the contractors 
on the public works, and others to whom the State was in- 
debted, the Legislature authorized an issue of Stale treasury 
notes to the amount of $1,500,000. For a short time these 
notes passed for their full value, but in 1842, when thei'e 
was about $ J, 000,000 of this currency in circulation among 
the people, it suddenly depreciated in value more than forty 
per cent. 

Th^ fiii^ncial condition of the countrv from 1839 to 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 235 

1843, can scarcely be understood by tbose wlio did not wit- 
ness it. Panic spread everywhere, and ailecled all classes 
of people. Probably those Who suffered mof: t were fanners 
and day laborers. All produce had to be sold at prices ex- 
ceedingly low, or bartered for other necessities. In some 
cases, oats sold for six cents per bushel, cliickens for fifty 
cents per dozen, eggs for three cents per dozen and other 
produce at corresponding prices. Money was as scarce as 
prices were low, and wages were lower still. It was diffi- 
cult for many families to keep from starving. 

AVork on the public improvements begdn v.hile !N'oah 
Xoble was Governor of Indiana, and met with failure dur- 
ing the administration of Governor Wallace. In the course 
of the years 1841 to 1843, numerous plans were adopted by 
the Legislature to relieve the State of the burden of debt 
which had been imposed upon it. The State Board of In- 
ternal Improvements was abolished and the works placed 
in the hands of commissioners and agents, and provision 
was made for disposing of any or all of the works to private 
companies. It was estimated that to complete all the works 
would cost the sum of $19,014,244. In 1841, the public 
debt of the State amounted to $15,088,146. For several 
years Indiana could not pay the interest on this enormous 
debt. 

During the administration of Governor "Whitcomb, the 
Legislature provided for the adjustment of the debt due 
those who held State bonds, and for the com.pletion of the 
AVabash and Erie Canal to Evansville. Before the opening 
of this canal, the people of the northern portion of Indiana, 
or the Upper Wabash country, as it was called, were depend- 
ent upon Indian agencies for the disposal of their produce, 



236 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and notes given in payment for debt were abnost always 
made payable a,t either the Miami or Pottawattamie agency, 
just as notes now given are made payable at a certain bank. 
This cuistom continued until the Wabash and Erie Canal 
and the Michigan Road were built, which opened up trado 
from other sources. The principal productions of the coun- 
try were grain, vegetables, hogs and other farm produce, 
furs, pelts and a kind of root called ginseng, which was used 
for medicine. This latter commodity gTew in large quan- 
tities in northern Indiana. 

The Michigan Road originally ran from Michigan City to 
Indianapolis, and thence to Madison, through Shelby, De- 
catur, Ripley and Jefferson Counties. It was bu'lt by the 
authority of the State Legislature of 1830, and was paid for 
with the proceeds from the sale of lands donated to tjhe gov- 
ernment by the chiefs and warriors of the Pottawattamie 
Indians for this purpose. A treaty with this tribe caused all 
the land north of the Wabash River to be brought into mar- 
ket, except the land which had been reserved for them. 

In the beginning, this road was but an opening throngh 
the forest of noble trees, that stood like a wall on either side 
of it. The mud was so deep, and travel so difficult, that fif- 
teen or twenty miles was considered a good day's journey. 
Wagons could not be used upon it; there were no bridges 
nor ferry-boats across the streams and only those on horse- 
back could travel the road and ford the rivers. 

The Wabash and Erie Canal was to have been the prin- 
cipal channel of commerce for about one-third of the State 
of Indiana, and a part of Illinois. Extending from Evans- 
\dlle to the Erie Canal, in Ohio, by way of LaEayette, Lo- 
gansport, and Fort Wayne^ it embraced about forty countiei^ 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 237 

in tlie State. It was tlie largest artificial channol for com- 
mercial purposes in America. There was great rejoicing 
when it was completed to the Wabash River. When the 
waters of Lake Erie united with the Mississippi through 
this channel, the event was celebrated at Fort Wayne by 
the booming of cannon, unfurling of flags and banners, and 
by patriotic speeches and illumination at night. 

During the 1839, boats were ran daily from Logansport 
to Fort Wayne, a distance of about eighty Uiiles, and it was 
completed and used from Lake Erie to LaFayette, a distance 
of about two hundred and fifteen miles. 

But this great channel was a disappointment to the peo^ 
pie who expected so much from it. It did not pay expenses 
and interest on the cost. This failure was due to the coming 
of railroads, built by the authority of the State, and cover- 
ing almost the same region of country through whioh the 
canal passes, tlius taking away its business. It was finally 
placed in the hands of trustees, together with its lands and 
revenues, as a security for one-half the State's debt. 

The canal, which was once the pride and hope of the peo- 
ple, is now a vast waste, abandoned and neglected, a mon- 
ument to its own past gTeatness; and while this magnificent 
enterprise lies in ruins, its enemies, the railroads, extend 
through almost every portion of our State, ci eating wealth 
and prosperity on every hand, while their powerful engines 
whistle defiantly along its banks, and whirl triumphantly 
across it. 

But it is to the railroads, which now form a network of 
iron over the State, that the enormous growth in wealth and 
population of Indiana is mainly due. Without them, the 
country, except in the vicinity of the rivers and lakes, would 



238 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

yet be a wilderness. "Not only have tliey opened vast re- 
gions for settlement, but they have distributed the wealth of 
the country, and made land hundreds of miles from the 
principal water com^ses as valuable as any in the State. 

When the internal improvement system failed in 1839, 
the only work that had reached Indianapolis was the Cen- 
tral Canal. The sections above to Xoblesville. and below to 
Martinsville were so far advanced that it would have re- 
quired a comparatively small amount of money and labor 
to have made a complete channel of water communication 
for over forty-five miles through the center of the State. 

But when the news of the State's bankruptcy overtook 
it, the workjnen abandoned it; the spade was left in the dirt, 
the wheel-barrow on the plank, and not another stroke of 
work was done. Nor has anything been done since, except 
to repair it and preserve the water power. When the short 
section was finished from Indianapolis to Broad Eipple, it 
was opened by an excursion. Not much traffic was conduct- 
ed by means of the canal, however; a quantity of Wv^od came 
down it occasionally, and some loads of grain and lumber, 
but its chief use has been a mill-race and for v^ater pur- 
poses. 

In 1833, while Noah Noble was Governor of Indiana, 
and during the period of excitement over the internal im- 
provement system, the settlements in the northwestern pai't 
of the State were much alarmed by the report of the hostile 
acts of the Sac Indians, who, under the leadership of the 
chief, ^^Black Hawk," were doing much mischief in north- 
ern Illinois. Governor Noble sent two detachments of the 
militia to the locality, and small detachments of riflemen 
were stationed at different points among the threatened set- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 239 

tlements. Black Hawk and liis band, however, did not in- 
vade Indiana, and were finally subdued by tlie United 
States troops and the Illinois militia. 



CHAPTEK XXIY. 
The Old National Koad— Mexican War. 

The National Road, sometimes called the Cumberland 
Pike, is the only highway of its kind ever built by the Gov- 
ernment of the United States. After the Americans had 
won their independence and established a government of 
their own, the United States Congress met from year to 
year, first in Philadelphia, then in New York, and finally in 
Washington. It was found to be very difficult for Congress- 
men who lived in remote districts to reach the National Cap- 
ital on account of the condition of the roads, or rather, in 
some cases, for want of any kind of roads. So tbese law- 
makers soon began to talk about roads and road improve- 
ments. 

In 1806, when Thomas Jefferson was President of the 
United States, a plan was proposed which resulted in the 
building of the great thoroughfare of which we speak. It 
began at Cumberland, Maryland, and was a continuation of 
the Cumberland road, connecting that city with Baltimore, 
Md, From Cumberland it extended westward over the Al- 
leghany Mountains, passing through the States of Mary- 
land, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and w as to have 
reached the Mississippi River at a point between St. Louis 
and the mouth of the Illinois River. The entire length was 



240 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF I^fDIANA. 

eight liundred miles. It was a magnificent plan, and liaid it 
been completed would have been the longest highway in 
America. It was built under the idirection of a Board of 
Commissioners, appointed by the President of the United 
States. 

At each session of Congress, large sums of money were 
appropriated to build and keep it in repair. After it was sur- 
veyed, the work was pushed forward as rapidly as possible, 
but it was a great undertaking to build eight hundred miles 
of road through an unsettled country — through forests, 
swamps and all kinds of places, and it was mo.ny yeaio before 
it reached the eastern boundary of Indiana. It was first 
built of stone, and afterward macadamized. Stronsf stone 
bridges, beautifully arched,were built across the rivers and 
streams, and each mile was marked by an iron poet. About 
every fifteen miles toll-houses of brick or stojie v/ere erect- 
ed, with strong iron gates hung on massive iron posts, which 
could be closed against the traveler who refused to pay the 
*^toll," or fee, which was charged for the use of the road. 

The road was built in sections and as soon as any portion 
of it was finished it was opened to the public. In this way 
it slowly crept westward over ,the mountains and through 
the forests, unrolling itself like a gTcat serpent. As it ex- 
tended in length, the travel increased until it became the 
great national thoroughfare between the East and the West, 
bringing the people together in social and business relations. 
Over it the mails were carried, merchandise transported, 
and all kinds of business transacted. It was t great national 
artery throbbing with a ceaseless tide of humamLy. 

Many of the most illustrious statesmen and heroes of the 
early liistory of our nation passed over it, to and from the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 241 

Capital, at the opening and closing of Congress. Among 
them weae Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, 
Henry Clay, James K. Polk, Martin Van Euren, Zachary 
Taylor, General Sam Ho-usiton, Crittenden, Shelby, Allen, 
Scott, Butler, Davy Crocket, and many others whose names 
are familiar to yon. Jenny Lind, the sweet ^'Swedish 
Nightingale," traveled over the road in a eiiartered coach 
with her manager, P. T. BaTnum, from her tour in the 
West. 

One of the greatest promotea's of the road was Henry 
Clay, the United States Senator from Kentucky, although 
it h said that Mr. Gallatin, of Pennsylvania, was the first 
to suggest it. Mr. Clay fought for the appropriations to 
build and repair it in every session of Congress for many 
years, and was one of its strongest advocates. He was a 
great favorite witli the people along the Kne, many of whom, 
knew him personally. 

Did you ever travel in a stage coach? The coaches used 
on the IN^atlonal Road were magnificent affairs for those 
times, although you would doubtless think it a very slow 
way indeed, to travel, in these days of limited express 
trains. They were handsomely painted on the outside, and 
lined with soft plush on the inside. They contained throe 
seats and were capable of oarrjdng nine passengers inside, 
with one beside the driver. The seat with the driver was 
very desirable in fine weather. It was worth a journey to 
see these gaily painted coaches ascend a steep hill, or glide 
over a level stretch of country, drawn by four strong horses 
decked with bright harness, with a number of small bells 
attached to a high iron frame fastened above the collair; or, 
to see it dash down a hillside, the driver flourishing his 

16 



242 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

long whip in a manner wliicli became tlie importance of Hs 
position. It was indeed a sight worth remeiribeiing to sec 
it enter a town or post station. The arrival of tlie stage 
coach was an important event in the daily life of the vil- 
lagers along the line of the National Eoad, and all ihe idlers 
for miles around assembled to witness it. Froin afai* the 
sound of the bugle announced its approach; soon the bril- 
liant equipage could be seen flashing in the famlight; in a 
twinkling the horses dashed up to the station where a groom 
stood waiting with fresh ones. Scarcely had tlioy stopped 
when the driver cast his reins to the groom who quickly un- 
hitched the horses, put the fresh ones in their places, and 
tossed the reins back to the driver, who had not left his liigK 
seat; another long blast from the trumpet, mingled with the 
jingling of bells, another flourish of the long whip, and 
they were off at full speed, to the great admiration of the 
lookers-on. It was a sight to behold ! 

The most of the horses used were fine animals, and they 
as well as the coaches belonged to a company. They trav- 
eled day and night with so much regularity tliat the farmers 
along the road knew the time of day by their pass'age. 
There were great numbers of these coaches; sometimes as 
many as twenty could be counted in line on some portions 
of the road. The mail coaches were somewhat different 
from the regular passenger coach, but they, too^ carried 
travelers. In addition to the stage coaches, tliere was an al- 
most constant stream of wagons loaded with all kinds of 
merchandise, coming and going over the road, bes'des large 
droves of horses, mules, cattle, hogs and sheep, on the way 
to eastern markets. It looked like one was nearing a great 
city to see all this travel. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 243 

There were raany comfortable hotels, or taverns, as they 
were called, situated along the road, with gaily painted 
sign-boards fastened to heavy posts. Each of these taverns 
was provided with a wagon-yard, into which wagons and 
horses were driven at night. The horses were protected 
from the weather by hea,vy blankets. Six horses were 
driven to each wagon, and they were called ''line teams.'' 
They were stationed along the road at a. distance of fifteen 
miles, and were exchanged like stage horses. Feed troughs 
were always carried suspended from the rear of the wagons 
and taken down and fastened to the wagon tongue, three on 
each side, while the horses ate, standing wilh their heads 
together. 

These teams also belonged to a company, and they took 
the place of the freight cars of to-day. The wugons were 
covered with lieavv canvas and loaded with all kinds of mer- 
chandise from the East. On their return trip they carried 
the produce from the West, just as the freight cars do. 
Sometimes the farmers would put their teams on the road 
in the busy season, when freights were high, but this \vas 
looked upon with ill favor by the company's men 

The drivers of the line teams were called 'Svagoners." 
They used a long whip with a tliick, hard handle, tapering 
to a point and ending in a silken cracker. i>Iany of them 
owned fierce bull-dogs, which they tied behind tlie wagons; 
they carried their beds rolled up in the front pait of the 
wagon, and at night spread them in a circle on the floor of 
the taveni, before the large open fire-place. Some of the 
wagoners were musical, and when they gathered at night 
around the tavern fire, they sang songs, played the "fiddle" 
and had a merry time of it. But they were up and off at 



244 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

break of day tlie next morning. There were tliousands of 
these wagoners; some of them were on the road for many 
years, and were well known to the peo'ple I'ving along the 
line. Many of them were men of intelligence and were re- 
spected by those who knew them. When the railroads took 
away their business, many of these stage drivers and wagon- 
ers wenlt Westj and continued their calling; others took up 
other occupations in the vicinity of the old pike. 

Beside the stage drivers and wagoners, there was the 
"postillion." This was a groom stationed with tv.o horses 
at the foot of long, steep hills, whose duty it was to hitch 
his horses to the coaches, or wagons, and help pull the load 
up the hill, riding a horse the while. lie then unhitched 
the horses, returned to his station, and was ready to assist 
the next team. There were many of these postillions on the 
I^ational Tvoad. 

The money used in the days of the "old pike'' was differ- 
ent from ours. The smallest coin was the copper cent; the 
next was the silver five-cent pie<:^c, and a coin worth six and 
a fourth cents; this was called a "fippeny bit," or a "fip." 
Then there was the twelve-and-a-half-cent piece, called a 
"levy," and the silver dime, quarter and half dollar. In 
tliose days a good meal could be had for a "levy," or twelve 
and a half cents. 

People seeking homes were eager to locate near the ISTa- 
tional Road, and there Avas a kind of distinction between the 
"pike folks" and those living farther back, like there some- 
times is between the city and country people. As the boys 
along the rivers all wish to become pilots, or river men, and 
the boys living near railroads are ambitious to become rail- 
road engineers, or conductors, so the boys along the iSTa- 
tional Road wanted to become stage drivers and wagoners. 



YOtJNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 245 

It was a rollickingj jollv sort of life, witli not too much 
hard work, and the ^'line men" were a source of envy to the 
pioneer hoys who had never been beyond the'.r native woods, 
and who longed to see the world to which that magnificent 
road led. 

In the year 1821), when James B. Ray was Governor of 
our State, Congress made an appropriation for 0[>ening the 
National Road through Indiana, and each year niorc money 
was appropriated, until 1838. The road was surveyed 
through Indiana and many contracts for building" it v;ere 
let. The land along the line was eagerly bought up, and set- 
tlers found their way to it through the forest, built their 
cabins and opened their farms in the expectation that the 
goN^ernment would soon complete its construction, and they 
would have easy access to their neighbors and a ready mar- 
ket for their produce. The work was fitfully prosecuted for 
ten years; some j)ortions of it were completed and in use; 
other sections were no more tlian openings thvough the 
woods, and in some seasons of the year were almost impass- 
able. The bridge across A\Tiite River at Indianapolis was 
begun in 1830 and completed in 1834. 

When the Internal improvement sj^stem failed in 1839, 
work on the National Road was abandoned, sliA for ten 
years it was left to fall into ruins for want cf repair. This 
was a great disappointment to the settlers who had expected 
BO much from it, and to the towns to whicli its promised 
greatness had been an advantage. 

In 1848 the National Government donated to Indiana 
that portion of the road lying within the State, together 
with all its improvements, and the State Legislature granted 
charters to four companies to complete it. A part of it was 
made a plank road; other sections were macadamized, buit 



246 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INMA^fA. 

before it was finished to the western Lorders of Ine State, 
the railroads came and took away its business, and. although 
it became., and is still, a great thoroughfare, it never reached 
that degree of greatness that made the eastern portion of 
the road so famous. 

The first large town in Indiana through which the Na- 
tional T\oad passes is Richmond. It forms the principal 
street of that city, which is called Main Street. It then 
passes through Centerville, which for years n^as th'3 county 
seat of Wayne County, afterward removed to Richmond. 
Leaving Centerville, it passes through Cambridge City, 
then forms the principal street of Dublin, which is called 
Cumberland Street. Continuing its westward course, it 
passes through Greenfield, to Indianapolis, where it be- 
comes Washington Street, passes westward to Terre Ilauto 
and loses itself amid the prairies of Illinois. 'I'he Stale 
tiu^ned over different parts of it to corporations which main- 
tained it. It is now owned by counties and operated as part 
of the free gravel road system of Indiana. 

THE MEXICAN WAR. 

It was while James Whitcomb was Governor of Indiana 
that what is known as the Mexican War occurred, and be- 
cause Indiana took a part in it, I will briefly relate the caiLse 
of the war. 

Texas was a part of Mexico; but, attracted by the fertility 
of its soil and its advantages for cattle-raising, a large num- 
ber of Americans had emigrated to that territory. By 1S30 
these American settlers were a majority Of its inhabitants. 
By race, manner of living and opinions, these settlers were 
so different from the Mexicans that they could not live un- 
der Mexican rule. So, in March, 183G, Texas declared its 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 247 

mclependence of Mexico, and on April lOtn of that year, 
fought in defense of this independence at the batHe of San 
Jacinto. Their victory was complete; Santa Anna, the 
President of Mexico, was captured, and was forced to sign a 
treaty acknowledging the independence of Texas. As this 
treaty was extorted from a prisoner, the Mexican govern- 
ment would not ratify it. 

The Texans were anxious for annexation to the United 
States, but it was not until 1845 that Congre^.s passed a law 
annexing Texas. The western boundary of Texas was in 
dispute, so the American army was ordered to seize the dis- 
puted territory. The Mexicans attacked and captured a 
small body of American dragoons; this was followed by two 
battles in quick successioiu. Congress declared war, and 
President Polk called for 50,000 volunteers. 

At this time the Indiana militia had been abandoned, and 
there were few men in the State who had had military train- 
ing; the officers, therefore, were mainly selected from 
among the volunteers. When the call for troops was made, 
Indiana promptly enlisted five regiments, numbering 4,585 
men, and sent them to the assistance of the government. 
The first of these regiments was commanded by Colonel 
James P. Drake. Henry S. Lane, who afterward became 
Governor of Indiana and represented the State in the 
United States Senate, was made Lieutenant-Colonel. Rob- 
ert 11. ]Milroy, afterward a Brigadier-General in the war for 
the Union, was Captain in this regiment, and General Lew 
Wallace, whose name is a household word in every Indiana 
home, was Second Lieutenant. 

The Second Regiment was commanded bj Colonel Jo- 
seph Lane, soon promoted to Brigadier-General and after- 
ward Governor of Oregon and United States Senator from 



248 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

that State. Among the officers ser\^ing in this regiment, 
wh(. afterward became Generals in the civil war, were Lov- 
ell H. Rosseau, W. T. Spicely and AV. L. Sanderson. James 
H. Lane, afterward Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana and 
also a General in the Union army, commanded the Third 
Eegiment. Colonel Willis A. Gorman cominaTided the 
Fourth Regiment. Tn this regiment another distinguished 
Greneral in the Lnion army, Ebenezer Dumont, served as 
Lieutenant. 

The Fifth Regiment was commanded by Colonel James 
H. Lane, after the expiration of the term of enliirtment of 
the Third Regiment. In this regiment General Mahlon D. 
Manson served as Captain. General Mansoii was afterward 
elected Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana. 

Among others who afterward became officers in the Fed- 
eral army and honored citizens of Indiana are: General 
George F. McGinnis, Major James A. Cravens, General 
Kathan Kimball, Major W. W. McCoy, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Allen May, Coloniel W. A. Bowles, Captain David Shunk 
and Captain William W. Lowe. 

Indiana regiments in the Mexican war lost about fifty 
men in battle and two hundred and eighteen by disease. 
The fighting began in May, 1846, and ended in October, 
1847, but the volunteers were not in the service more than 
a year. 

The war was a series of victories for the Unit^^d States. 
The Mexicans made what terms they could. They were 
obliged to yield up Texas, and sold ^ew Mexico and Cali- 
fornia to the United States; for this the government paid 
about $18,000,000, but received in return 890,000 square 
miles of territory, or enough to make nearly twenty-five 
States as large as Indiana. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 249 



CHAPTEK XXV. 
The Constitutional Convention of 1850-51. 

As times changed and the country developed, it began to 
be felt that the State liad outgrown the Constitution. The 
circumstances of the people had greatly changed .since the 
formation of the State government. Great progress had 
been made in population, wealth, commerce aoid manufac- 
tories, and this made, a change in the organic law almost 
necessary. 

Reforms, or changes in the government of a people, are 
always the outgrowth of their own experience, and the peo- 
ple of Indiana seriously considered the wisdom of revising 
the Constitution of 1816 so as to meet the demands of the 
times and circumstances. 

To determine the wishes of the people in the matter, the 
Legislature of 1848-49, passed a law submitting the ques^ 
tion of calling a convention to alter, revise or amend the 
Constitution, to the people themselves. The majoiity of the 
citizens voted to call a Constitutional Convention, and lan 
election was held for the purpose of choosing men as dele- 
gates to this convention. 

The time selected for forming a new Constitution was 
fortunate. It was during ,a period which has be^n called 
the "era of good feeling in Indiana." The llae between the 
two great political parties, which were called the \¥hig and 
the Democratic, was not very distinctly marked. The peo- 
ple, appreciating the importance of the work to be done, 
put aside all party and personal spirit and selected capable 
and honest men to serve as delegates. Few if any counties 



250 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

elected a full delegation of the same political belief^ and cilr 
izens who were unknown in politics, but were prominent in 
other pursuits were cliosen and the most trusted men sent 
as representatives to the comvention. In this the people 
were wise. But little party feeling was shown and political 
discussions were in a great measure abstained from, and the 
efforts of the delegates united to create for the people of 
Indiana a Constitution wdiich could meet their expectations 
and their needs. 

^0 more important body of men ever assembled in the 
State of Indiana than that which met in the Hall of Kepre- 
sentatives, in the old State Capitol in Indianapolis, October 
7th, 1850, to revise the Constitution of the State. There 
were one hundred and fifty of thein, and they came from all 
settled parts of the State. Some of them traveled for three 
or four days, over the worst possible roads, to reach the 
capital. 

The most of the delegates were in the prime of life, only 
one man being under twenty-five years of age, and one over 
sixty-six. Xot all of them were natives of Indiana : indeed, 
but thirteen of them were born within the State, for you 
will remember that the country was still very new and that 
but few settlers had lived here long enough to rear families 
to manhood and womanhood. So the greater number of tlie 
delegates to the convention were citizens of the State by 
adoption. 

They were all natives of the United States except six. 
Three of these, James Dick, G. II. Ballingall and Eobert 
Dale Owen, were natives of Scotland, and tliree, Allen 
Hamilton, Dixon Milligan and Eeattie McClelland, were 
born in Ireland. 



YOUIJG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 251 

Of the remainder, seventy-four were boru in Soutliern 
States and seventy in Northern States. T went} -two were 
born in Kentucky, nineteen in A^irginia, seventeen in Ohio, 
sixteen in New York, thirteen in Indiana, ten in North Car- 
olina, seven in Tennessee, four in Massachuselts, four in 
South Carolina, two in Connecticut, one in Delaware, one in 
New Hampshire, one in Vermont and one in New Jersey. 
In all, sixteen States and two foreign countries were repre- 
sented. 

Their occupations in life wei'e varied. Sixty-two of them 
were farmers, thirty-nine were lawyers, sixteen w^re physi- 
cians, eleven were merchants and traders, two were teach- 
ers, two were manufacturers, two Avere surveyors, one was 
a tanner, one a carpenter, one a millwright, one a brick- 
layer, one a county recorder, one an accountant, one a mill- 
er, one an editor and one a banker. The occupation of the 
others is not known. In politics, ninety-four wore Demo- 
crats, fifty-three were Whigs, one called himicK a Conserv- 
ative, one a Free-Soil er and one an Independent. 

Although representing different States and countries, and 
different political parties, the people had been so careful in 
the choice of delegates that the convention was composed of 
some of the best men in the country — those who might be 
called "representative men." This was not only shown by 
the wisdom of their work, but also by the high places which 
mc»st of them continued to occupy in the confidence and es- 
teem of the people. 

Three of them, Schuyler Colfax, Thomas A. riendricks 
and William H. English, were afterward chosen by their re- 
spective parties as candidates for Vice-President of the 
United States, and the first two were elected, Tw o of them. 



252 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

John Pettit and Thomas A. Hendricks, were sent to repre- 
sent die State in the United States Senate. Eleven were 
elected to the United States House of Kepresent.itiA^es; they 
were Schuyler Colfax, Robert Dale Owen, David Kilgore, 
James Locldiart, Smith Miller, Thomas Smitii, William S. 
Holman, Thomas A. Hendricks, AVilliam McKce Dunn, 
James B. Foley and William H. English. Mr. Colfax 
served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for sev- 
eral sessions. 

Three of the delegates, David Wallace, Thomas A. Hen- 
dricks and Alvin P. Hovey, became Governors of Indiana, 
and one, Samuel Hall, served as Lieutenant-Governor. 
Three, Horace P. Biddle, Alvin P. Hovey and John Pettit, 
were elected Judges of the Supreme Court, while two oth- 
ers, John B. Xiles and John B. Howe, were nominated by 
their parties for that position. Twelve otJiers were elected 
judges of other State courts. Three, James Borden, Robert 
Dale Owen and Alvin P. Hovey, were appointed United 
States ministers to foreign countries. Two, Alvin P. Hovey 
and Robert H. Milroy, became distinguished Generals in the 
war for the Union. One of them, William McKee Dunn, 
for many years held the important position of Judge Advo^ 
cate-General of the United States army. 

Michael G. Bright was agent of the State, Horace E. Car- 
ter was Reporter of die Supreme Court, John P. Dimn and 
Joseph Ristine were elected Auditor of State, William R. 
^offsinger and John I. Morrison each served as Treasurer 
of State. Many others held important places of trust, and 
it is not recorded that any one of them was ever accused of 
a dishonorable act in public life, or of violating the laws of 
the countrv. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 253 

This distingiiislied body of men met in the old State 
House on that October day in 1850, thirty- four years after 
the first Constitutional Convention met at Corydon. They 
were called to order by Charles II. Test, who was then Sec- 
retary of State. The Hon. George AV. Carr, from Lawrence 
County, who had served as Speaker of the House of Repre- 
sentatives for the tAvo previous sessions, was elected Presi- 
dent of the convention, and William H. English was elected 
Secretary. Robert M. Evans, of Eranldin County ; Harmon 
G. Barkwell, of Perry County, and George L. Sites, of Al- 
len Countv, were chosen Assistant Secretaries. 

The names of the delegates were called by the Secretary 
of State. They all stood while the oath to support the Con- 
stitution of the United States and to perform their duties ajs 
delegates to the convention was administered to tl'.em by the 
Hen. Isaac Blackford, then senior Judge of the Supreme 
Court of Indiana. The oath was then administered to the 
Secretary and his assistants, and other necessary officers 
were appointed. 

The convention continued to meet from day to day, from 
the 7th of October, 1850, until February 10th, 1851, when, 
having finished the work of forming a new Constitution, 
they dissolved the convention by a final adjournment, hav- 
ing been in session for one hundred and twenty-sc^en days, 
or more than four months. 

The convening of the State Legislature in December 
made it necessary to change the place of meeting, and the 
remaining sessions of the convention were held in the Ma- 
sonic Hall, then just completed, which stood whei'e the Ma- 
sonic Temple is now situated, on Washington Street. 
• The delegates were paid three dollars per day for their 



254 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

services, and allowed tlie usual legislative mileage. The 
entire cost of the convention was $85,083.05. This was the 
total expense of a body composed of one hundred and fifty 
members in session one hundred and twenty-seven days. 
The Leffislatures of to-dav have the same numb'^r of mem- 
hers, and for the regular sessions of sixty-one days now cost 
nearly $100,000 per session, and sometimes more than that 
amount. 

Ilie old Constitution of 1816 was taken as a basis for the 
nev»^ Each section was studied, discussed and alieied to suit 
the needs of the people. Many important subjects received 
the attention of the delegates, and were discussed from ev- 
ery standpoint before a decision was reached. Aruong these 
was the length of the term of State officers an<l their eligibil- 
ity to re-election. The question of negro slavery, and a res- 
olution to abolish the grand jury system, were warmly de>- 
bated. 

A resolution to prohibit negroes from immigrating to the 
State and to prevent them from holding property in Indiana 
was introduced, and the sentiment was strongly in favor of 
its adoption. The Society of Friends, at Diibline Wayne 
County, presented a memorial praying that all distinction 
of color be excluded from the Constitution. Tho delegates 
wore not in sympathy with this proposition, and no action, 
was taken upon it. 

The questions of capital punishment, or puniJiment by 
death, and imprisonment for debt, were discussed, and a 
long and heated argument was caused by the introduction of 
a clause to enlarge and increase the rights of women to hold 
property in their own name. 

The State banking system and the public school system 



YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA, 255 

claimed much attention; but perliaps no part of the Consti- 
tution caused so much discussion, or was more Wdrmly de^- 
bated than the thirteenth article, which provided that no 
negro or mulatto should come into the St-ate or settle in it, 
after the adoption of the Constitution. The cjaestion of 
owning slaves in the State had been forever settled by Con- 
gress in the ordinance for the government of the I\ orthwest- 
ern Territory, in 1787, but the feeling against the negro 
was very strong in Indiana, and, although there v/ere many 
persons who were willing that they should settle in the 
State, the majority were strongly opposed to it. 

One of the arguments in favor of the thirteenth article 
was that Kentucky had recently adopted a Constitution 
making it unlawful for any free negro or mulatto to live 
within the State, under penalty of imprisonmen't, and that, 
being compelled to leave the State, they would naturally 
cross the river into Indiana, and unable to support them- 
selves, would become public charges. 

The argument against the adoption of this article was 
that the free negroes, being compelled to leave the State in 
which they lived, must have some place to go, and that in 
the name of humanity, they should not be driven from our 
borders. 'Tf this article is adopted," they argued, ^Svhat is 
the free negro to do? If he remains in Kentucky, he must 
be put in prison for the crime of being free. If he attempts 
to step upon Indiana soil, he must be driven back, and any 
one who treats him wdth human kindness, or gives him em- 
ployment, shall be fined as an offender against the laws of 
the State." The subject was of so great importance that the 
convention determined to leave it to be decided by a vote of 
the people themselves. 



256 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Another subject wliich claimed the attention of the dele- 
gates related to the State banking system. It was proposed 
to give the Legislature the right to make a general banking 
law, and that it also be given the power to extend the char- 
ter of the State Bank of Indiana for five years, and that the 
profit from the funds of the State which were invested in 
the bank be devoted to common school purposes. On this 
question arose one of the most exciting debates of the ses- 
sion. The proposition was defeated, and banks with 
branches can only be incorporated under the general law. 

One of the most important acts of this convention was the 
provision to establish a common school system. While the 
old Constitution favored free schools and liberal education, 
it made no provision for their establishment ; all Avas confu- 
sion and uncertainty. The Legislature was simply authoir- 
ized to act as soon as ^'circumstances would permit.*' 

The Committee on Education, of which the Hon. John L 
Morrison was chairman, brought order out of this cliaos, and 
by its wisdom and tact succeeded in incorporating in the 
new Constitution an article which provided for the establish- 
ment of a general and uniform system of common schools. 

A spirited and interesting debate arose on tlie proposition 
of Robert Dale Owen concerning the rights of married 
women to hold property. The proposition was not adopted 
as a part of the Constitution, but was af tenvard introduced 
by Mr. Owen into the Legislature and made a law. 

After the delegates had agreed upon the Constitution, it 
was printed, and copies sent among the people that they 
might study and decide whether or not they wished it 
adopted as the Constitution, or fundamental law of the 
State. After they had had time to consider it, ar election 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 257 

was held, and tliose wlio were in favor of its adopticn voted 
"For the Constitution;" tliose wlio opposed it voted 
"Against the Constitution.'' There ^vere 109,319 votes for 
and 26,755 against it, so you see that the Ccnstitiition was 
adopted by a very large majority. 

The thirteenth article, which provided that negroes and 
mulattoes should be excluded from the State, was voted on 
separately. This vote stood 109,976 for and 21,066 against 
the article; this prohibited the negro from living within the 
State. 

So the Constitution became the law, and took effect on 
IN'ovember 1, 1851, and the first general election under it 
was held the following year. Under the new Constitution 
all the offices of the State became vacant the year follow- 
ing its adoption, and the entire State government had to be 
reorganized. 



CHAPTER XXYI. 

The First Legislature Under the New Constitution — How Laws 

are made. 

The adoption of the new Constitution made many 
changes necessar)" in the statutes, or laws, in order ihat they 
might agree with the Constitution, which we understand to 
be the supreme law of the State. So it was well known that 
the first I/egislature to meet after the adoption of the Con- 
stitution was one of unusual importance. In fact, the work 
of this Legislature was to continue the work which the Con- 
stitutional Convention had outlined. As one has beauti- 
fully said: ^The whole temple of State governLuent, from 
17 



258 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

spire to foundation stone, had to be taken down, remodeled 
and built up so as to conform to tlie new Cojistitution and 
the progress and improvements of the age/' 

Because of the vast amount of work it had to do, this Leg- 
islature was not limited in time, as are the other sessions. It 
met on December 1, 1851, and closed June 15, 1S52, hav- 
ing been in session over six months. This v/as tlie longest 
legislative session ever held in Indiana. Many of the men 
who served in the Constitutional Convention and in former 
Legislatures were elected to serve in this. It was a, verj 
strong body of men. The people realized the impoitance of 
doing well the work begun by the Constitutional Conven- 
tion, and elected men of ability and honest purpose. Many 
of them were afterward called to serve their State in high 
places of honor and trust. ]^o Legislature in the histoiy of 
Indiana ever did more work, or work of a more useful char- 
acter. Its members applied themselves to strict perform- 
ance of their duties, and manifested a desire to promote the 
welfare and interest of the people whom they represented. 
Many new methods were introduced in legislation, many 
important changes made in existing laws and some changes, 
or modifications, made in nearly every statute in the State. 

The Constitution of 1851 stands to-day as it was adopted 
then, with but few changes or modifications. For almost 
fifty years it bas guarded our rights and protected our wel- 
fare. When amendments have become necessary, it ^vas 
not caused by any fault in the Constitution, but from 
changes of conditions which have come since its adoption. 
Three amendments have been made, which relate- to a 
chans^e in the condition of the necrro race, and were made 
necessary by the amendments of the Constitution of the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 259 

United States. Another amendment was made to make the 
time of our general elections agree with the time fixed, by 
the Congress of tlie United States for the elccti<.)iL of mem- 
bers to Congress. Another fixed the period of robidence in 
voting precincts, in order to prevent illegal voting; another 
amendment was made for the purpose of giving the Legis- 
lature power to regulate the fees and salaries of public offi- 
cers. Another changed the language in defining the power 
of courts; another limited the amount of taxation in cities 
and towns. In 1873, an amendment was adopted which 
forever prohibited the State from any liability to pay the 
Wabash and Erie Canal bonds, 

The Constitution of Indiana provides that to er^act a law 
it must first be introduced into the General Assembly by a 
bill. A bill is the proposed law written out, and it must bo- 
gin with the words, ''Be it enacted by the General Assembly 
of the State of Indiana.'' A bill may be introduced by a 
member of either House, to his branch of the Legislature. 
It may originate in either the House or the Senate, except 
bills for raising revenue, which must first be introduced in 
the House. Either branch of the Legislature muy amend 
any bill that conies from the other branch. 

Two-thirds of the members of either House must be pres- 
ent before business can be transacted; this is called a 
quorum. Each bill must be read on three separate days., 
unless two-thirds of the members vote to suspend this rule, 
when it may be read three times the same day. A bill is 
first read for information, after which it may at once be re- 
jected. (A bill is seldom rejected on the first reading.) If 
there is no motion to reject, it is referred to an .appropriate 
committee or to a committee of the whole House. If it is 



260 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OE INDIANA. 

considered of sufficient importance, it may be ordered to bo 
printed. 

A committee may '^kill" a bill by failing to report upon 
it until it is too late for consideration. A bill may be re^- 
ported back to the llouee with amendments or without 
amendments, or, with or without recommendations. After 
a bill has been reported, it goes to the presiding officer's' 
desk and is placed with other reported bills to await its turn- 
In the order of business it is taken up and read a second, 
time, after which it is ready to be amended, re-committed, 
or engrossed. If amendments are reported b^ the com- 
mittee, they must be acted upon before other amendments 
are considered. The chief discussions upon the bill take 
place at this point. It may here be rejected by a motion to 
strike out the clause '^Be it enacted by the General Assem- 
bly of the State of Indiana," which is called the enacting 
clause. 

If there are no amendments, or motions to reject, after it 
is read a second time, the bill is ordered to be engrossed — 
that is, it is rewritten for the purpose of correcting all errors 
in spelling, punctuation, etc. If there are amendments, 
and the same are adopted, they are engrossed as la part of tlie 
original bill. A bill may be recommitted, or referred back 
to the committee, any number of times before ordered to be 
engrossed. After being engrossed it is referred tO' the com- 
mittee ou engrossed bills, whose duty it is to compare it 
carefully with the original and make a report as to the cor- 
rectness of the engrossment. It is then ready for the tliird, 
or final reading. 

After the third reading, a vote is taken as to whether the 
bill shall become a law. The roll-call must show that two- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 261 

thirds of tlie members of the House in which the vote is 
taken are present, and at least a majority of all the members 
elected nimst have voted for the bill before it is declared to 
have passed. A vote is then taken on the qnestionj "Shall 
the title of the bill stand as the title of the act?" If no ob- 
jection is raised it is so ordered without a vote. Tlie clerk 
of the House in Avhicli the bill originated informs the other 
branch of the Legislature of the passage of the bill, and the 
engrossed copv, signed by the clerk, is introduced and passes 
through exactly the same course, except that a bill engrossed 
in one House is not engrossed in the other. If it is amend- 
ed, the amendment is engTossed, and with the bill, is re- 
turned tO' the House where it originated. If this branch 
concm's in the amendment, or accepts it, the T)ill is ready to 
be enrolled. If it is not accepted, each House appoints two 
members to confer together concerning tlie amendment. 
This is called a conference committee. If. after this com- 
mittee reports, the Senate and House fail to agree, the bill is 
lost. If they agree, and the bill passes both liouses, it is or- 
dered tO' be enrolled by the House in which it originated. 
After enrollment, it is carefully examined by the committee 
on enrolled bills, which compares it with the engro?sed bill 
and coiTects any errors, and a report is made to both 
branches of the Legislature, and signed by the Speaker of 
the House and President of the Senate. After they liave 
signed the bill, it is presented to the Governor for his con- 
sideration. The committee then reports its action to the 
two Houses, and the report is entered on the journal of each 
House. 

If the Governor approves it, lie signs the enrolled bill 
and it becomes a law. He then notifies both the Senate 



262 yOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and the House of his action and files the bill with the Secre- 
tary of State, who supervises the printing. If the Governor 
disapproves the bill he returns it to the House in which it 
originated with his objections in writing. This is called a 
veto. The objections of the Governor are entered upon the 
journal and the bill is at once reconsidered. If a majority 
of all the members elected to that House, agree to pass the 
bill, it may be sent, with the Governor's objections, to the 
other House for reconsideration, and if a majority of all the 
members of this House approve it, they may pass it over the 
Governor's veto, and it becomes a law and is deposited with 
the Secretary of State. 

If the Governor does not act upon a bill for three dayg 
(excepting Sundays) after it has been presented to him, it 
becomes a law unless the Legislature adjourns before its re- 
turn; in this case it becomes a law, unless the Governor 
files his objections with the Secretary of State, within five 
days — which are to be laid before the Legislature at its next 
session. Bills are not to be presented to the Governor with- 
in two days of the final adjournment of the Legislature. 
Laws do not take effect until they are published by author- 
ity, and circulated in the counties of the State, except they 
are made cases of emergency, when they take effect as soon, 
as passed. 

The people who make our laws are called Senators and 
Representatives, and as we have seen, they are elected by 
the people of the State. Every six years, an enameration 
of all the male inhabitants of the State, over t\venty-one 
years of age, is taken ; that is, men are sent from house to 
house, in the cities, villages and country, to take the name 
of everj one eaa titled to vote, and the next Legislature takea 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 263 

this list and divides the State into districts, called ^'Sena- 
torial Districts/' according to population. From each of 
these districts one or more State Senators are elected. It 
also divides the State into other districts, witli no reference 
to the Senatorial Districts; these are called "Representative 
Districts,'' and from these one or more Representatives are 
elected, according to the population. This division of the 
State for election pnrj^oses is called "apportionment." 

The State Constitution provides for fifty Senators who 
are elected to serve for a term of four years; one-half of 
them to be elected every two years, that there may always be 
experienced men in the Senate at every session of the Legis- 
lature. Before a man can be elected Senator he must be at 
least twenty-five years old; he must be a citizen of the 
United States and of the State of Indiana, and must live in 
the State for the two years preceding his election, and for 
the year previous, must live in the district from whicli he is 
elected. The Constitution also provides for oue hundred 
Representatives, elected to serve for two years. A Repre- 
sentative must be at least twenty-one years old, and have the 
same qualifications as the Senators. 

The Legislature meets at the State Capitol in Indiana/p- 
olis, every two years, in the odd number of years. It begins 
on the Thursday following the first Mondaj^ in January, 
and continues sixty-one days. The Governor may call spe- 
cial sessions at any time the public Avelfare re(|uires it. Both 
Senators and Representatives receive six dollars per day for 
their services during the session, and are allowed a certain 
amount of mileage to cover expenses in traveling to and 
from the State capital. 



264 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

CHAPTEK XXYII. 

Early Indiana Banks — Underground Railroad. 

The liistory of Indiana after tlie adoption of tlie Consti- 
tution of 1851, is a story of growth and development. The 
farms were improved, better houses and barns took the place 
of the log cabins and stables of the pioneers; public schools 
were introduced and better school-houses erected; to'^vns 
and villages increased in numbefr and population, and the 
industries of the State become greater and more extensive^ 
Eailroads w^ere attracting the attention of the people and a 
number of lines w^ere being constructed within the State. 
The telegraph had made its appearance and the entire coun- 
try was striving to reach a higher state of civilization. 

Aside from this general progress, no great events transr 
pired until the beginning of the civil war, except that the 
peace and business prosjierity of the settlers were disturbed 
by the unsafety of the banks in the State and the uncertain 
value of the money then in circulation. I shall not attempt 
to explain to you the causes of this great financial distress, 
but merely give an outline of the history of the carlv banks 
of the State. 

Before the State Bank of Indiana was organized, indeed 
as early as 1814, the Legislature granted charters to two 
banks to be established, one at Madison, to be known as 
"The Farmers' Bank of Indiana," the other at Vinoennes, 
to be called ''The Bank of Yincennes." These were the 
first banks of Indiana,. 

The Bank of Yincennes violated its charter in 1821; and 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 265 

its privileges were taken from it, and a large amount of 
notes which it had put in circulation became woithless pirop- 
ertj. The notes of The Farmers' Bank were finally re- 
deemed. In 1833-34:, The State Bank of Indiana was or- 
ganized, and before a year ten branches were established in 
different parts of the State. The law provided that while 
this bank was in existence no other bank could bo chartered 
and no other banking system authorized. 

The banking business in those days was very different 
from that of to-day. There were neither railroads nor ex- 
press companies, and when money was to be sent from one 
bank to another, it was carried by the owners, or by private 
messenccers. Bank officers and their clerks often traveled 
long distajices, on horse-back, over the most difilcult and 
dangerouis roads, carrying thousands of dollars in their sad- 
dle-bags. They were obliged to seek sheUer al night in 
some settler's cabin, or at some wayside tavern, and al- 
though no effoirt was made to keep their business a secret, no 
case of robbery was ever heard of. It was no unusual 
thing for these officers or their agents to make the journey 
from I'ort Wayne to Indianapolis in this way, or from other 
points requiring three or four days' travel. 

In time the population and business of the State so in- 
creased, that it was thought advisable to establish a more 
liberal banking system, and this was authorized by the Con- 
stitution of 1851. As a result, banks sprang up all over the 
State, and the country was flooded with wortbJess paper 
currency. 

In those days the government did not issue the carirency 
for the country as it now does, but each bank made its own 
notes, or paper money. Many of these banks were fraudu- 



266' YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

lent, and circulated thousands of dollars of notes they nO'Ver 
expected to redeem. 

This worthless money caused no end of trouble, and thou- 
sands of people were ruined by it. One by one the banks 
failed and great distress followed. Business was destroyed 
and the development of the State greatly retarded. This 
condition of affairs continued until the establishment of the 
Is^ational Banking system, which put an end to these 
''Banks of IsBue/' as they were called. 

Another subject whicli claimed the attention ox the peo- 
ple in Indiana at this time, was the Anti-Slavery movement. 
We know of the bitter feeling against slavery which existed 
in Indiana and we know that by a direct vote of the people 
the Constitution of 1851 provided that no' negro or mulatto 
should come into, or settle in the State. This, together with 
the fugitive slave law, which permitted a sla^'e owner to 
come into the State and claim and carry away any human 
property belonging to him, greatly aroused the feelings of 
those whose sjanpathies were with these unfortunate people, 
and was the beginning of the anti-slavery movement, and 
the mysterious '"Undergi'ound Bailroad" system, of which 
you may have heard. Those who were active in ihis move- 
ment wore called ''abolitionists," because they believed in 
the abolition, or abolishment of slavery. While powerless 
to free the negroes, they did all tliey could to increase the 
sentiment against slavery. To these people many a fugitive 
slave turned for protection and assistance. In some way 
they learned to know who their friends were, and after 
crossing the Ohio Kiver, sought them out and by means of 
the Underground Eailroad, found their v/ay to Canada, 
wliere the fugitive slave law of the United States had no 
effect, 




0^ 






YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 267 

Of course you must know tliat there was no actual under- 
ground railroad, but the people who received these run- 
away slaves secreted them in some place of safety, and in 
the darkness of the night conveyed thein to some other 
point, where they were placed in the care of other friends, 
who in turn secreted them until they could safely send them 
on their journey northward. The secrecy and mystery 
with which these people were passed from one town to an- 
other, — from one settlement to another, won for the system 
the name of the Underground Hailroad. 

It is never right to violate the laws of our country, as 
these people certainly did; 'and yet, there were many good 
men and women who assisted these fugitive slaves to escape 
from bondage. They believed, and honestly toe, that the 
laws of humanity are greater than any lav/s made by man, 
and so continued their work imtil the time came, when, by 
the stroke of a mighty pen, the shackles were stricken from 
millions of slaves. 



CHAPTEE XXYIII. 

The War for the Union — Indiana in the War. 

You have read or been told of the War for the Uidon, as 
we shall call it — a war that lasted four years; cost more than 
half a million lives; destroyed thousands of homes, laid a 
large portion of the country in ruins, and forever abolished 
human slavery in America. You must know that there 
must have been a great dispute which led to so long and 
bloody a war. You may ask what this dispute was about 
which made the ISIorth and the Soutli such deadly enemies, 
I will try to tell. 



268 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The seeds of contention had been sown before the thir- 
teen colonies became the United States. At that time the 
differences were not sectional, but^ men in both sections 
could not agree in regard to the power of the Federal gov- 
ernment. Washington and his following, which secured 
the adoption of the Constitution which made ihe colonies 
the United States, maintained that the Federal government 
should be supreme and that the States should be subor- 
dinate. Those who followed Thomas Jefferson believed in 
the independence of the several States. Before he was 
President, JefTerson put forth the doctrine that a State 
might ignore any act of Congress that the pe(jple thereof be- 
lieved to be opposed to their interests. 

Strange as it may seem, the next threats to ignore the 
acts of Congress were made in ^ew England, by the ene- 
mies of Jefferson, during the war of 1812. Secession was 
threatened because Congress had passed an embargo act; 
that is, a law which prevented any ship from going out of an. 
American port. The next secession threat was made by 
South Carolina in 1832, when its Legislature passed an act 
to nullify, or make void the tariff laws. The prompt action 
of General Jackson, then President of the United States, 
prevented an insurrection. 

This would doubtless have been the end C'i all threats of 
secession had not the institution of human slavery kept it 
alive. The political leaders in the slave States very nat- 
urally maintained that the Federal government could not 
interfere with their property in slaves. ISTone except a few 
abolitionists disputed this. There came liowever, a ques- 
tion about the extension of slavery into the territoiies out 
of which States were being made. So a compromise wa3 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 269 

made tliat beyond a given line, slaveiy was forever pro- 
hibited. 

This did not stop the controversy. The Xorth was grow- 
ing faster than the South and would soon be able to direct 
the government. Afany people in the JSTorth were made 
indignant by the passage of a fugitive slave law which per- 
mitted tlie owner to take the runaway slave in any State 
and return him to slavery. Nothing would haA^e come of 
these sectional troubles, however, had not the South been 
able to cause the compromise of which we ha\'e spoken, to be 
repealed, or made void, thus permitting slavery to be ex- 
tended into tlie territories and allowing them to become 
slave States. This repeal aroused the resentment of the 
E^orth and extreme bitterness grew out of the efforts o'i 
slave-holders to make Kansas a slave State. 

The bitterness continued to grow. In 1S60 the E^orth- 
ern States elected Abraham Lincoln President of Uie United 
States. The South eirn leaders insisted that his election 
meant the freeing of slaves in the Southern States, and that 
being sovereign, that is having greater power than the Fed- 
eral government, it was their privilege to v^ithdraw from 
the Union. It was a revival of the old question of the right 
of secession, which men both in the South and in I^ew Eng- 
land had proclaimed years before. The slave-owning 
States did secede and set up a government of their own. 
On the other hand the ISTorth held that the irnior. could not 
be dissolved. Upon this issue the country divided. 

Slavery was the immediate cause of the secession, but the 
question of the right to secede was as old as the Federal 
government. There was no court that could settle this 
grave dispute, so it was appealed to the battle field. Tiie 



270 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

result of this four years' trial by battle was in favor of the 
Xorth. Both sections now admit that the preservation of 
the Union is best for all, and that the abolition of slavery, 
which resulted from the war, was a blessing to the South. 

The triumph of the Union laid the foumdation of national 
greatness and power. But the South was as sincere in its 
belief in secession, as the ]^orth was in its belief in the 
Union. Both fought with equal valor, because Grant and 
Sherman and Thomas on one side, and Lee and Johnson 
and Gordon on the other, were Americans. To-day men of 
both sections agree tliat the Federal government is supreme 
wherever the Stars and Stripes float. 

The War for the Union was a great historical event, and 
because Indiana took a very important part in il, I will try 
to tell you something of what she did. 

Doubtless you have all read about the firing upon Fort 
Sumter on tliat April morning in 1861, which vas the be- 
ginning of the greatest civil war the world has ever known. 
For several months there had been heard mutterings of war; 
the Southern leaders had made threats against tJie govern- 
ment, and one by one, the States of South Carolina. Missis- 
sippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana had seceded. 
— that is, they claimed to have withdrawn from the Union, 
and refused any longer to obey the laws of the General 
Government. They seized all the Government forts, ships, 
arsenals and other property within reach, and set up a gov- 
ernment for themselves, which they called ^'The Confeder- 
ate States of America," and they adopted a Constitution, 
and elected Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, President of the 
Confederacy, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice- 
President. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 271 

Althongli tlie South had done all this, the people in the 
iN'orth still hoped for a peaceful settlement of the dilTiculties, 
but the secessionists, as they were called, we^it on preparing 
for war. They collected all the arms and ammunition they 
could get. They had taken possession of all the forts and 
guns in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, except Fort 
Sumter, which was in command of Major Eoberfc Anderson 
with a small force of men. On April 11, 18G1, General 
Beauregard, the Confederate commander at Charleston 
Harbor, demanded of Major Anderson that this fort be sur- 
rendered into his hands. Major Anderson refused to sur- 
render, whereupon the Confederate officer caused the fort 
to be fired upon. 

Scarcely had the sound of the first gun died away, when 
the news flashed over the wires, "Fort Sumter is fired 
upon." In an almost incredibly short time the news had 
reached the remotest part of the country, and created the 
most intense excitement. In spite of all the warnings that 
had been given, it could scarcely be believed. Our flag 
fired upon! — and that, too, by those under our own govern- 
ment! The people were wild with excitement and horror; 
they could not stay in their homes, but throrij^ed the streets 
and other public places, where they might look into each 
other's faces and talk of the stirring events that were taking 
place. They waited eagerly and impatiently for further 
news from the South, and when it became known tliat Major 
Anderson had been compelled by superior force, to surren- 
der Fort Sumter, a deep gloom settled over the country, 
but only for a day. They soon realized that the country 
was in danger, and with this came a feeling of responsibility 
for the safety of the government. All selfishness was for- 



272 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

gotten, and in the breast of every patriotic Amciican came 
the determination to defend the Union at any cost. 

On April 1 5th, President Lincohi issued a proclamation 
calling for 75,000 troops.. On the same day, Oliver P. Mor- 
ton, Governor of Indiana, telegraphed the President, offer- 
ing him the services of 10,000 men, and then called upon 
the patriotic sons of Indiana to help him redeem that pledge* 
Plow did they respond? The day after the call, 500 men 
were in camp at the Pair Grounds north of the city of In- 
dianapolis, which was called Camp Morton. Three days 
after the call 2,400 men w^ere in camp, and every train 
brought others. In less than a week more than 12,000 men 
had enlisted. 

The government had fixed Indiana's quota, or the num- 
ber of men she was to furnish, at 4,683 men and officers. 
Already almost three times that number had enlisted, and 
the question was not ^Svho will go?" but "who ivill be al- 
lowed to go?" The Governor could not choclv the stream 
of soldiers that poured into Camp Morton; so be tele- 
graphed the Secretary of War, at AVashington, of ering him 
six regiments; failing to get a reply, he sent a messenger to 
the Capital to inform the officials that he would place these 
regiments under drill, and hold them in readiness to go at 
the call of the government. 

Eleven days after Governor Morton's call for troops, 
these six regiments were fully organized and being drilled. 
As the Indiana regiments in the l^^exican "War were num- 
bered from one to five, these regiments were numbered 
from six to eleven, that there might arise no confusion; and 
the regiments organized afterward, took succos&ive num- 
bers. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 273 

These first six regiments were commanded Ly Colonels 
Thomas T. Crittenden, Ebenezer Dnmont, William P. Ben- 
ton, Robert H. Milroy, Malilon D. Manson and Lew Wal- 
lace. Tliey made up the first brigade of Indiana under 
General Thomas A. Morris. These enlistments were for 
three months. There yet remained twenty -nine companies 
at Camp Morton, and still men continued to enlist. The 
President called for troops again and again, and Indiana's 
men were the first to respond. 

During the first year of the war, in addition to tLebe six 
regiments of three months' troops, six regiments of State 
troops Avere raised which were afterward transferred to the 
United States service. The three months' regiments wqre 
reorganized for three years' service. Infantry regiments 
up to the 156th were recruited, and portions of some others. 
Thirteen regiments of cavalry and one regiment and twenty- 
five companies of artillery were put into the field, and 2,130 
men enlisted in the navy. The most of the companies that 
enlisted for the first year, re-enlisted when their time ex- 
pired. 

Indiana was all the time ahead of her qucta from 2,000 
to 30,000 men; and when the war ended, ouv State had 
furnished to the Union cause a larger per ceiitum of her 
men of military age, than any of the larger States. The 
enlistments in Indiana were 74.1 per cent, of tlie men of 
military age; that is, more than 74 out of every one hun- 
dred men between the ages of eighteen and forty five years 
went to the war, and 6.87 per cent, of the entire population, 
that is, nearly seven out of every one hundrecl, counting 
men, women and chiklren, were soldiers. 

The troops of most States were sent to the arena of war 
18 



274 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

nearest tliem. but from the first, Indiana's men were scat- 
tered. Some of the most famous regiments in the Army of 
the Potomac were from Indiana. They were in all the 
central armies and those operating on the Mississippi River 
and beyond. They took part in all the impoi'tant cam- 
paigns, and were in all the important battles fought during 
the war. The first man killed in battle was an Indiana 
soldier, a private in the 0th Hegiment; the first man killed 
on picket, was a private in the 7th Indiana; the last man 
killed in the war, belonged to the Sith Indiana Infantry. 

The number of regiments enlisted in Indiana was 151. 
The number of men belonging to the infantry, was 175,772. 
The number of men belonging to the cavalry, was 21,605. 
The number of men belonging to artillery companies, was 
10^990. The number of naval volunteers W3S 2,130. The 
total number of enlistments was 210,497. 

Of these 7,243 w^ere killed or mortally wounded; 19,429 
died from disease and other causes; of this nund^ei, 1,152 
died in Confederate prisons. In the battle of Chickamauga 
30 per cent, of the men killed were from Indiana regiments 
and batteries, showing that they were where lire and smoke 
were thickest. Our m.en were the first to meet and oppose 
General Bragg's army, and Indiana regiments were the last 
to leave the field. The deaths during the wad* were 17.7 
per cent, of the entire enlistment; or, more than 17 men 
died, out of every 100 who enlisted. The average deaths 
of all the States was 16.7 per cent, of the enlistment; this 
shows Indiana's death rate to be higher than the average. 
Besides this, many thousands of soldiers came home 90' ill 
from wounds and disease, that they soon died. 

These may be but dry figures, but every Indiana boy and 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 275 

girl will be proiicl to know that OUR STATE fiirni&lied 
more soldiers in proportion to lier men of militai/ age, than 
did tlie most of tlie other States. 

But collecting soldiers was not all that Governor Morton 
had to do. When the first call for troops wad made, the 
condition of Indiana was not favorable to war. The mi- 
litia, or State troops were w^eak in number and weie without 
arms, and the State was without money. The men must be 
fed, clothed, anned and drilled before they ;:ould be of any 
use to the government. The Governor called a special 
session of the Legislature to consider these matters. He 
sent agents to Eastern cities to procure arms, and succeeded 
in obtaining an order from the government for 5,000 mus- 
kets, but these did not arrive until the first regiments were 
in the field. 

The government was unable to furnish sufiiclent ammu- 
nition for the troops, so Governor Morton put a few soldiers 
to work making bullets in hand molds, at a blacksmith's 
forge, and had them packed for use of our men. This 
proved so good a plan that the little arsenal was enlarged 
until several hundred men were employed who not only 
furnished ammunition to Indiana soldiers, but aLo supplied 
a large portion of the troops west of the Allegnany Moun- 
tains. 

Soon the government approved the plan and paid for the 
work. xVfter the close of the war, the present Govern- 
ment Arsenal was established at Indianapoli -:. 

The railroads brought the troops to the capital free of 
charge, but the State was obliged to furnish clothing and 
food for them while they were in camp, and for this pur- 
pose, large suiits of money were donated by citizens, cities, 



276 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

towns and counties, while a number of banlcs and wealthy 
men offered to loan money to tlie Governor until th? Legis- 
lature could make provision to meet the enormous expense. 

The Legislature met on April 24th, and promptly author- 
ized the loan of $2,000,000 to aid in carrying on the war. 
It also passed a law to organize the Indiana militia, and 
provided for six regiments of State troops. It also author- 
ized counties to appropriate money for the support of sol- 
diers' families, and for the purchase of airms, and for the 
expense of raising companies; in short, it did its utmost to 
aid Governor Morton in his plans for assistnig the govern- 
ment in carrying on the war. 

While Governor Morton and the Legislature were thus 
busy in preparing for the war, the people of Indiana were 
not idle. Public meetings were held in every city, village 
and neighborhood in the State, for the purpose of raising 
companies and giving expression to the loyal sentiments of 
the citizens. Iliere had never been such an exhibition of 
patriotism on "Iloosicr soil." The Stars and Stripes floated 
from church steeples, school-houses and all public biuldings 
as well as from business houses and many private dwellings, 
and flags were presented to almost every company- of men. 

Women were at ivork supplying the wants of the soldiers, 
for which the authorities could not provide. Everything 
that loyal hearts and hands could do, w^as done to assist 
Governor Morton; and this work continued as long a^ there 
was necessity for it. When the troops were in the field, 
Indiana's Governor, assisted by the loyal men and women, 
provided for their needs, both in camp and hospital. 

In February, 18G2, Camp Morton, where the first In- 
diana regiments were organized, was made a prison for cap- 



YOtlNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. ^77 

tiired Confederates, a large mimber of whom were sent 
tliere from Fort Donaldson and other places. Tiiey were 
at first guarded by different regiments, and fin^lij by tlie 
veteran reserves. ]Many of these prisoners were ill, and a 
hospital was opened where they were kindly cared for, but a 
large number died and were buried in a graveyard on the 
banks of White Kiver. 

Indianapolis became a great military center, not only for 
Indiana troops, but for thousands from other States \vho 
passed through the city on their way to and from tiie scenes 
of war. A number of military camps were established here 
and in other parts of the State. 

So many sick and wounded soldiers were sent Loire from 
the South that it became necessary to provide means for 
taking care of them, and a camp was established for this 
purpose, south of the Union Depot in Indianapolis. After- 
ward, a building was secured for their use, which came to 
be known as ^'The Soldiers' Home." These sick soldiers 
were tenderly nursed by the men and women of Indianap- 
olis and other cities, ^o troops in the Union Vvxre better 
provided for, both at home and at the front, than were 
those of Indiana. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 
The War in Indiana. 

I have told you something about Indiana in the war; we 
will now talk of the war in Indiana. 

We have seen how promptly Indiana's citizens answered 
President Lincoln's call for troops to defend the govern- 



278 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OE INDIANA. 

ment, and liow Indiana's Governor and tlie people united in 
their efforts to do their share in putting down the rehellion; 
and we have been surprised that so much could be done in so 
short a time. 

But not all the citizens of our State were what we call 
'^loyal;" that is, not all of them believed that the power of 
the general government is supreme. Some of them united 
with the South in the belief that the States had tlie right to 
withdraw from the Union whenever they considered it to 
their interest to do so. Some of them also believed in the 
institution of slavery. A large number of the early immi- 
grants and those who came later, were from rslave States, 
and it is not strange that they should still hold to the beliefs 
and opinions of the Southern people. 

Many of them had friends and relatives in ^he seceding 
States, and their sympathies were naturally vdtli them. Be- 
sides all this, slavery at one time existed in Indiana, and you 
will remember that many of the members of the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1851, were opposed to negroes and 
mulattoes coming into the State, and that the subject was 
warmly discussed, and that the questions concerning it were 
submitted to a direct vote of the people, because the dele^ 
gates could not agree. 

This was but ten years before the beginning of the war, 
and tbe strong feelings then expressed in favor cf slavery, 
could not be expected to disappear in so short a time; and 
so it was, that while a very large majority of th^: people of 
Indiana were "unionists," there were those \\ho favored 
the Southern cause, and in the contest between tlie GencTal 
Government and the slave States, their sympathies were 
with the South. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 279 

This difference in opinion between people of the same 
locality was very unpleasant, and in some communities 
caused much strife and ill-feeling, especially in the southern 
counties where the secession element was strongest. Secret 
societies w^ere organized in some of these counties, for the 
purpose of aiding the Southern cause, and to prevent South- 
ern sympathizers from being drafted into the Northern 
armies, but they were discovered and controlled before 
much mischief was done. 

From the iiret there had been much alaria lest the Con- 
federates in Kentucky s.hould cross the river and attack the 
towns in Indiana. Kentucky, as you know^, lies just across 
the Ohio Kiver from Indiana, and is the State which sep- 
arates the Xorth from the South. The people of Kentucky 
w^ere divided concerning the causes of the ,var, a majority 
of them being unionists. Many of them had frieads among 
the Xorthem people; some of them had been er^ucated in 
the Xorth and their sympathies were with the Union cause; 
but a very large number sympathized with the South. 
Among these were the Governor and many of the officials 
and leading men of the State, so when President Lincoln 
called upon Kentucky for men to aid in protecting the 
Union, the Governor refused to send troops, and it was 
feared that Kentucky might secede. 

The feeling became very bitter. The State was over- 
run with bands of lawless men called "guerrillas," who 
robbed and plundered wdiomsoever they pleased, and mer- 
cilessly persecuted the union people, and not unfrequently 
killed them. This was the class of men that the citizens of 
Indiana had cause to fear. 

The relations existing between Indiana and Kentucky 



280 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

were peculiar. The people were bound together hy ties of 
blood and friendship. Many Kentuckians had come into 
our State to make their homes; many Indianians lived in 
Kentucky, and the people of the sister States were closely 
associated in business, while their social relations were the 
most cordial. JSTor did Indiana forget the debt of gratitude 
she owed to Kentucky, who sent her troops to defend the 
settlements in pioneer days, and when the news came that 
the Confederate Generals John Morgan and Kirby Smith, 
with a large force of troops had invaded the State and 
threatened to capture both Cincinnati and Louisville, In- 
diana sent over 20,000 men to her assistance. 

It was known that the guerrillas who infested Kentucky 
were liable to invade Indiana at any time, and it became 
necessary to have a force of armed men to guard the entire 
river border, to prevent them from crossing. Companies 
of men were formed in all the southern counties ana towns. 
These military organizations, or State militia, which wetre 
formed to protect the borders, were called ^The India.na 
Legion." Besides tliis, the citizens armed themselves and 
joined together to protect themselves and their property. 
By these acts they stood as a protection to the whole State, 
being as a barrier between the ^orth and the South. 

Although exposed to constant danger, there was no in- 
vasion in Indiana imtil July, 1862. At this time, A. R. 
Johnson, a guerrilla chief in command of a small force of 
mounted men, some of them deserters from tlie Unior. army, 
was raiding tlirough Kentucky, committing all sorts of out- 
rages upon such union citizens as he could find, killing some 
of them and destroying the property of others; thus his 
name became a terror to the country. On the IStli of July, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 281 

tliey crossed tLe Ohio Kiver at Xewburo, In "Warrick 
County, about fifteen miles above Evansville, wiiere tbere 
was a hospital containing eighty or ninety sick union sol- 
diers; here also were some arms and ammunition belonging 
to the Indiana Legion. 

The invaders landed at the noon hour, when most of the 
people w^ere at dinner, and before the alarm could be given, 
and the militia called out, they had captured the hospital, 
the arms and ammunition, and had thrown out pickets, or 
guards, in every direction. The inhabitants were told that 
their lives depended upon their remaining quiet; that a 
battery, or cannon was planted on the opposite side of the 
river and that they would shell the town if an attempt was 
made to resist them. 

The attack was so sudden, the surprise so coiaplele, that 
the citizens were obliged to submit. The guerrillas cap- 
tured their horses, robbed their houses and stores, and com- 
mitted other outrages. The sick soldiers were compelled to 
sign paroles; that is, they were compelled to txke an oath 
that they would not again fight against tlie South, until 
they had been exchanged for Confederate prisoners. Some 
of the disloyal citizens of Kewburg took part in the raid, 
and assisted in plundering the town. Two of them after- 
ward met death at the hands of the citizens. 

While the guerrillas were plundering and robbing New- 
burg, a messenger had been sent to Evansville to procure 
assistance. In less than an hour after the alarm was given, 
1,000 men were armed and ready to start to the assistance 
of their neighbors. A part of them were sent in steam- 
boats to ^Newburg, and the remainder marr^hed across the 
countrv, but before they arrived the raiders had crossed 



282 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the river into Kentucky, and were out of the reach of the 
militia. 

The danger from these marauding parties grew worse. 
In Kentucky they continued to plunder, and sometimes 
murder, and the southern portion of Indiana w^as in a con- 
stant state of alarm. Governor Morton had sent all the 
troops that could be spared, to the assistance of Kentucky, 
but after the raid on Newburg he determined to organize a 
force strong enough to invade Kentucky and break up these 
guerrilla bands and drive them out of the country. He in- 
formed General Eoyle (who commanded the union troops 
in Kentucky) of his plans — which met the approval of tliat 
officer — and at once set about to execute them. 

Major-General Love, who commanded the Indiana Le- 
gion, was sent to Evansville with a company of men, arms 
and ammunition; a call was made for volunteers, and the 
Legion in the border counties was ordered on duty. The 
Newburg outrage had caused great alarm and indignation 
throughout the State, and there was a quick reoponse to the 
Governor's call. 

It was a part of the plan of the Confederates to carry 
the seat of the war into the JSTorthern States, and as a step 
in this direction. General E. Kirby Smith with a large force 
of men, marched toward Kentucky, with the intention of 
capturing Cincinnati, Louisville and otlier towns on the 
Ohio River, and of destroying the railroads and telegraphs, 
and thus preventing communication between the Nortb and 
the South and allowing no reinforcements to reach the 
Northern Army at the front. 

On July 10th, General Boyle telegi'aphed Governor 
Morton, informing him of this threatened danger, and call- 
ing for troops to help defend Kentucky and prevent Smith's 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 283 

array from capturing the cities and towns on the Ohio Eiv- 
er. At this time, the only organized troops in Indiana were 
guarding the Confederate prisoners at Indianapolis. So 
Governor llorton at once placed a portion of the Indiana 
Legion as guards at Camp Morton, and sent the disciplined 
men to the assistance of Kentucky. 

The trouble continued, and on August 8th, Governor 
Iforton was again called upon for troops. He immediately 
issued a call for volunteers, and by the 11th, 20,000 men 
had enlisted. The news was received that Smith and Mor- 
gan had again invaded Kentucky, and that again our bord- 
ers were exposed. Great alarm spread over the State, and 
the troops were hurried into Kentucky without time for 
drill. 

On August 29th and 30th, our troops met the Confed- 
erates at Kichmond, Kentucky, and a battle was fought in 
which nearly 1,000 Indiana soldiers were killed and wouaid- 
ed, and two thousand captured and paroled ; our men fought 
so well that they received praise from Brigadier-General 
Boyle for their bravery. Although the battle was lost to us, 
it checked the progress of the Confederates and gave tim© 
to prepare for the defense of Cincinnati. 

On September 6th, Governor Morton sent two Indiana 
regiments and a large amount of ammunition to Cincin- 
nati, and with his military staff went to assist in 'arranging 
for the defense of the city. 

General Lew Wallace was placed in command of the 
troops, and Smith was forced to withdraw. Immediately 
General Bragg threatened to attack Louisville, but after the 
battle of Perryville, October 8th, Bragg and Smith were 
driven from the State, and our borders were for a time un- 
molested. 



284 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The work of enlisting and organizing troops in Indiana 
continued. In a little more than a month, 30,000 three- 
years soldiers had enlisted and been organized. With bnt 
little assistance Indiana regiments had fought, the battles 
of Richmond and Munfordsville, and prevented the enemy 
from advancing upon Cincinnati and Louisville, and had 
assisted in driving the invaders out of Kentucky. 

All this time the Indiana Legion and ''Minule Men/' or 
armed citizens, had guarded the borders of the State, and 
prevented bands of guerrillas from crossing the Ohio. For 
nearly four hundred miles the river was patrolled, and about 
4,000 Confederate prisoners guarded at Indianapolis. Ev- 
ery demand made upon Indiana by the General Govern- 
ment, or by "neighboring States" was promptly and will- 
ingly met. 

In May, 18G3, Captain Hines, with a company of men be- 
longing to Morgan's cavalry, made a raid in southern In- 
diana, and succeeded in capturing a number of horses and 
plundering a few houses. All except Hines and a few of his 
men were captured; a few were killed and dro'wned in try- 
ing to make their escape. 



CHAPTEK XXX. 

Morgan's Raid in Indiana. 

Have you read of Genral John Morgan, and how with a 
large force of mounted Confederate troops he crossed the 
Ohio River and invaded southern Indiana? In times of war 
it is not unusual for an army to invade the enemy's coun- 
try, and to rob, plunder and destroy much that comes in its 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 285 

way — and I sliall try to tell you about this raid of Mor- 
gan's; not because it is worse than others; than those perpe- 
trated by the Federal troops, perhaps — but because it took 
place on Indiana soil, and for that reason particularly con- 
cerns us. 

In the summer of 1863, the position of the Confederate 
army in East Tennessee was perilous. It was threatened by 
strong Federal forces, and to draw off the Union troops 
and prevent an attack. General Morgan, who belonged to 
General Bragg's army, planned a raid through Kentucky, 
Indiana and Ohio. This, he argued, would employ the 
Union troops upon his tracks, prevent them from uniting 
and attacking the Confederates in Tennessee, and give them 
an opportunity to better fortify themselves. It would also 
give him an opportunity to procure a good supply of horses, 
of which his men stood sorely in need. 

ITis starting point was Alexandria, Tennessee; from there 
he j'ushed northward through Kentucky, gathering strength 
as he went, until he reached the Ohio Kiver at Branden- 
burg, two miles above Mauxport, in Harrison County, In- 
diana, where he arrived on the morning of July 8th, 1863, 
with a force of about 2,200 mounted men. 

Two officers and a squad of men had been sent forward 
the day before to secure boats for crossing the river. Short- 
ly after they reached Brandenburg, the steamer J. T. Mc- 
Combs ran up to the wharf. No sooner had she toujched 
than they boarded her, made prisoners of the crew, and took 
possession of the boat. As fortune would have it, the Alice 
Bean soon came steaming around the bend; they ran tho 
McCombs out into the river and 'had no difficulty in cap- 
turing her. This gave the means of crossing the Ohio, and 



286 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

when ^lorgan arrived, the boats were ready to cO'nvey Ms 
troops to the Indiana side. 

The report that Morgan's men had captured the two 
steamboats was quicklv carried to Mauxport, and Lieuten- 
ant Irvin at once sent a messenger to Corydon for troops 
to assist in preventing them from landing. About the same 
time the steamer Lady Pike came up the river; she was sent 
back to Leavenworth for artillery and gunners, and in a few 
hours returned with a six-pound gun, and thirty men un- 
der Captain Lyon. They landed two miles below the town 
that they might not be seen by the Confederates, and 
hauled the gun by hand to Mauxport, where Colonel Tim- 
berlake and about one hundred of the Indiana Legion had 
assembled. 

Dragging the gun with them, they proceeded to a point 
opposite Brandenburg, where the captured boats lay. Plant- 
ing their gun in front of an old house opposite the landing, 
they waited for a heavy fog to clear away, and when it had 
risen, Morgan's men could be seen preparing to cross. 

Several shots Avere fired at them, but the Confederate 
gums were soon trained on the artillerymen, and they were 
forced to fall back, dragging their gujn with them. The 
militia stationed along the bank to prevent them from cross- 
ing were tired upon, and although they bravely defended 
themselves, they were so small in number that they were 
compelled to retreat. A party of Morgan's men landed, 
captured the gun and 'took several prisoners. Seeing that 
they weTe greatly outnumbered, the militia fell back toward 
Corydon, but a skirmish was kept up with the invadei*s until 
they reached a point six miles from Corydon, where Colonel 
Jordon with 200 of the Legion had formed a line of battle. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 287 

During this time tlie remainder of Morgan's men were 
crossing tlie river. They were interrupted in this by a little 
gun-boat, and later by two steamers fitted up with batteries, 
which opened fire upon them. Ko particular harm was 
done, but Morgan's force was divided, a portion having gone 
in pursuit of the militia, while the remainder were pre- 
vented from crossing the river for several hoim's. Finally 
the boats were driven off by the invaders' guns and they 
crossed without further delay. 

i\fter the battle of Tippecanoe, which ended th.e trouble 
with the Indians, there had been no war in Indiana, so 
when the news was received that Morgan threatened to cross 
the Ohio River with a large force of men, capture Indianapr 
oils, release the 4,000 Confederate prisoners confined at 
Camp ^lorton, and capture or destroy the arsenal where the 
military supplies were kept, the people were greatly 
alarmed, and when it was reported that the Confederates 
had actually invaded the State, there was wide-spread con- 
sternation. 

At this time all the Indiana troops were in the field except 
two companies, which were doing duty at the Soldiers' 
Home at Indianapolis, a small number of recruits and a few 
exchanged prisoners. The State was in no condition to de- 
fend her borders. True, the militia was organized, but not 
trained; it was simply a collection of citizens, undisciplined 
and not well armed. A small number were better drilled, 
but they were too few to be very eifective. There were not 
more than 200 mounted troops in the State, besides a small 
company of citizens using their own horses. What could 
they do against an army of more than 2,000 well trained, 
cavalry ? 



288 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

As soon as Governor Morton learned that Morgan was 
marching northward through Kentucky, he ordored out the 
militia along the borders to prevent him from crossing the 
river. Some of these companies were sent to Louisville at 
the request of the General in command there, and some 
]\Iichigan troops were ordered to this State. 

You will remember that large numbers of Indiana sol- 
diers had been sent to the assistance of Kentucky, and when 
Governor Morton received the news that Morgan was on the 
banks of the Ohio, preparing to cross, he sent an earnest re- 
quest to General Boyle, who was in command of the forces 
in Kentucky, to send troops to prevent him. General Boyle 
made no reply. Again and again Governor Morton re- 
quested that our own troops be sent to our assistance. After 
the third message had been received. General Boyle sent the 
following reply: ^^Morgan is near Corydon, and will either 
move upon Kew Albany or the interior of the State. He 
has no less than 4,000 men and six pieces of artilleiy. Gen- 
eral llobson, in pursuit of him, is at Brandenburg, and has 
sent for transports to cross his forces. Your cities and towns 
will be sacked and pillaged if you do not bring out your 
State forces." General Boyle seemed to have forgotten how 
promptly Indiana responded to his call for troops to defend 
Kentucky and did not offer to assist us, even with our own 
men. 

However, Governor Morton had not relied upon receiv- 
ing help from General Boyle, and had lost no time in secur- 
ing ammunition and cars for transporting men. He pub- 
lished a general order, announcing that Morgan had invaded 
Indiana, and ordered all able-bodied men soiuth of the E'a- 
tional Road to form themselves into companies, elect offi- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 289 

cers, perfect tliemselves in drill, and as far as possible, to 
secure liorses and arm themselves. 

Citizens in otlier parts of the State were also requested to 
form comptjnies and to be ready for service wlien called for. 
At the same time a request was sent to tlie commander of 
the river fleet for gun-boats to prevent Morgan from re- 
crossing tlie river. A request was also telegraphed General 
Earnside to send back the troops and artillery sent to Ken- 
tucky a few days before; and as it was believed that the in- 
vaders would attempt to recross the river between Louisville 
and Madison, he urged that it be guarded from Louisville 
to Lawrenceburg. This was done. General Boyle was or- 
dered to patrol the river, and General Burnside assured 
Governor Morton that he should have sufficient National 
troops to resist the invaders. 

At Governor Morton's suggestion, a number of ordinary 
river steamers were fitted up as gun-boats, and Lieutenant 
George Brown, of the United States navy, who was at Indi- 
anapolis on leave, was placed in command of the fleet. In 
addition to this, Governor Morton purchased arms for the 
use of tlie cavalry force, and the men at the arsenal were put 
to work making ammunition. 

Prominent citizens in many counties were requested to 
organize all the able-bodied men in their neighborhood into 
companies, and to provide them with blankets and bring 
them to Indianapolis as early as possible, and men were sent 
through the country to secure volunteers. 

While the Governor and other officials were thuis busy 

preparing to meet the invaders, the people all over the State 

were gathering in such numbers as could not have been 

imagined. In less than twenty-four hours after the call for 

19 



290 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

volunteers, 5,000 men were ready for service and 10,000 
were on the way to tlie capital. Within two days 20,000 
men had mustered, and notice was received that 45,000 
men were organized and ready for service, making a total 
of 65,000 men gathered in defense of the State within 
forty-eight hours; this, too, in the busiest time of the year. 

The farmers were in the midst of harvest. So many men 
were already in the war that it was difficult to secure suffi- 
cient help to gather in the grain. The crops were ripe, and 
to neglect them would mean a great loss to the owners. But 
they did not for a moment hesitate; the grain was left to per- 
ish in the fields, merchants left their stores, mechanics de- 
serted their shops, students threw aside their books, and old 
and young, rich and poor, sv/armed in great numbers to the 
capital city or to the nearest towns. 

Indianapolis was the central mustering place, and it be- 
came an immense barracks. The camps were overflowing, 
vacant lots and buildings were full of soldiers, halls, lofts 
and streets beca7Tie their sleeping places. Railroad trains 
camo rushing in every hour, filled with "shouting men." 
Wagons loaded with them came pouring into the city from 
the nearest districts, leaving a long line of cloud-like dust 
behind them. 

The work of organizing such a force was indeed greatt. 
General Carrington came from Ohio to assist in mustering 
the men. Major-General Wilcox was in command of the 
District of Indiana and Michigan. Major-General Lew 
Wallace, at the request of Governor Morton, was detailed to 
assist in the defenses of the State; General Hasc-all was 
placed in command of the defenses at Indianapolis. Cap- 
tain Farquhar was appointed Brigadier-General of the State 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 291 

troops and was sent to Evansville to organize tHe militia for 
the protection of the river borders. Major-General Mans- 
field was sent to take charge of the troops and to bring out 
the militia on the way. Colonel Fribarger was sent to or- 
ganize the artillery, and other officers were called into serv- 
ice as they were needed. 

But what had Morgan been doing all this time? After 
crossing the river he marched directly northward toward 
Corydon, plundering as he went. He met resistance from 
the militia, but so greatly outnumbered them that he had 
but little difficulty in reaching the old State capital, where 
he opened his artillery upon the little band of defenders, 
who found themselves almost surrounded by a veteran force 
eight times as great as their own, and were forced to surren- 
der 345 of their men. (These were afterward paroled by 
Morgan ) Three of the militia were killed and three wound- 
ed, one of whom died, and one man died from heat and ex- 
haustion. 

Morgan and his chief officers took quarters in a hotel in 
the town, while his men broke into the stores and dwellings, 
taking what they wished, and destroying what they could 
not take. They robbed the county treasury, made milling 
firms pay them large sums of money to ransom their mills 
from fire, and compelled the women to cook food for them. 
They took two prominent citizens prisoners, while entering 
the town, made them ride at the head of the column, and 
threatened to shoot them if they were fired upon. 

After securing all the horses for miles around, and resting 
a few hours, they rode out of Corydon, leaving their own 
worn-out steeds and eleven of their wounded men. A few 
miles from Corydon they killed a man for trying to avoid 
capture and shot and wounded two boys. 



292 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

After leaving Corjdon, Morgan divided his force, send- 
ing one detachment on the right to Greenville, in Eloyd 
County, another on the left to Paoli, in Orange County, 
while the main body continued northward tO' Palmyra, in 
Harrison County. I3y thus dividing his army he confused 
the authorities, and left a doubt as to where he intended to 
strike. 

After securing all the horses in the country through 
which they passed, plundering and destroying as they went, 
they again united at Salem, in Washington County, on the 
morning of the lOtli. They entered the town without diffi- 
culiy^ easily dispersing the badly armed troops that camo 
out to meet them, and capturing a company of Legion men, 
and forcing others to retreat. They burned the railroad de- 
pot, destroyed bridges, tore up the track, plundered stores 
and dwellings, and in short repeated the work of the previ- 
ous day. There were never such depredations committed in 
Indiana. 

The raiders took things they did not want and for which 
they had no use, for the mere pleasure it gave them, only to 
throw them away. Bolts of muslin and dress goods, bird 
cages, skates, tinware and buttons, silverware — anything 
that attracted their attention was taken from the stores and 
houses. Food they had in abundance, and where they could 
not find it prepared, they compelled the women to cook it 
for them. 

They did not remain long in Salem, but again turned 
northward toward Indianapolis; but Morgan soon discov- 
ered this to be a dangerous route and changed his coirrseu 
By this time the State troops had been organized and strong 
detachments stationed at Mitchell, in Lawrence County, and 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 293 

at Seym our, in Jackson County; both these towns were sit- 
uated on the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, which lay di- 
rectly in front of Morgan's moving army. A large number 
of cars had been collected at these places, which could con- 
vey the soldiers to any point in either direction. The Con- 
federates must cross this road, between these armies, before 
they could reach Indianapolis, where a still greater force 
awaited them. 

Morgan also learned that General Ilobson with a large 
cavalry force, had crossed the Ohio River and was pursuing 
him, thus cutting off all retreat, and that the forces of the 
State were rapidly forming and would soon bear down upon 
him in every direction. His only safety lay in flight. 
Quickly changing his course to the eastward, he huiTied 
toward the Ohio River, apparently with the intention of 
crossing before he co'uld be intercepted. He continued this 
course, passing through Canton and ]^ew Philadelphia, in 
AVashington County, to Vienna, in Scott County; here he 
stopped long enough to burn some railroad bridges and cap- 
ture the telegraph operator, and by ^'taj^ping the mres" 
learned of the work being done by the State authorities, and 
that orders had been given to fell trees across all the roads 
over which he was liable to travel, to obstruct the passage of 
his army. He then proceeded to Lexington, the county ©eat 
of Scott County, and camped for the night. 

The next morning he started in a northerly direction 
toward Vernon, in Jennings County, throwing out detach- 
ments toward Madison, to prevent the troops assembled 
there from moving against him. Korth Vernon was an im- 
portant railroad crossing and was guarded by the State 
troops, Vernon, but a few miles away, was also guarded. 



294 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Not caring to make an attack, Morgan sent a flag of truce 
to the commanding officer, Colonel Williams, demanding a 
surrender, and threw out some skirmishers as though going 
to attack the town. 

Colonel Williams refused to surrender, and Morgan setnt 
a second flag of truce, with a second demand to surrender. 
In the meantime General Love had arrived, and the flag was 
returned with a message demanding Morgan himself to sur- 
render. 

By this time ooir force had increased to 1,000 men, and 
General Love prepared to fight. He sent a request to Mor- 
gan for two hours in which to remove the woonen and chil- 
dren. Morgan granted him thirty minutes, and they were 
hurried into a woods near by, where they were out of dan- 
ger; the guns were placed in position, and the troops ar- 
ranged to the best advantage. 

A detachment of 1 [organ's men tried to get in between 
the towns, which caused a slight skirmish, but they made no 
attack. While all this was taking place, the main portion of 
Morgan's army had quietly slipped away, and was moving 
ofl; toward Dupont, in Jefferson County. In fact, he had no 
intention of fighting, but only made a pretense to attract the 
attention of the State troops while he removed his men. 
The next morning General Wallace with a force of men 
from Indianapolis, and General Hughs with a force from 
Mitchell, arrived at Yemon, but the wily chief and his band 
had escaped. 

At Dupont the invaders camped, repeated the depreda- 
tions of the previous days, burning bridges, destroying rail- 
roads, telegraphs, and fields of grain, and robbing and plun- 
deiing as was their habit. They raided a large packing 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 295 

house, and each man rode away with a ham of meat adorn- 
ing his saddle. The next morning they again turned toward 
the Ohio and Mississippi Raih'oad, capturing horses, burn- 
ing and plunder as they went. Dashing into Versailles, 
they captured Colonel Cravens and 300 men, made a pris- 
oner of the county treasurer, robbed the treasury, and plun- 
dered the sto-res and dwellings in their own fashion. 

All this time the State troops were bearing down upon 
Morgan in sufficient numbers to have crushed him, had not 
tho rapidity of his movements prevented them from coming 
togetlier; besides it was very difficult to pursue a body of 
mounted men with infantry transported by railroad. 

General Hobson was pursuing Morgan, and was some- 
times not more than twenty-five miles behind him, but his 
horses were worn and jaded, while Morgan's were fresh, 
since in his ffight he had taken all the good ones out of the 
country, leaving his worn out horses in their places. An- 
other serious diffi.culty in the way of capturing Morgan was 
the Jack of correct information concerning his movements. 
He was a cunning foe, and always left doubt as to his real 
intentions, and many conflicting reports reached the author- 
ities and greatly confused them. 

Leaving Versailles, the Confederates continued their 
course toward the Ohio and ^lississippi Railroad, reaching 
Osgood, where they captured the telegraph operator. They 
then proceeded to Pierceville and Milan, destroying prop- 
erty as they went. As they neared Sunman their pickets en- 
countered 2,500 militiamen and a regiment of minutemen, 
which caused a slight skirmish, and the invaders turned to- 
ward the Ohio Kiver, burning bridges and destroying rail- 
road property as they went. Passing throingh Hubbell; 



296 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

^e\v Alsace and Logan, they reached the Ohio border at 
Hairisoii, and passed out of the State on the 13th, closely 
pursued. 

Having followed Morgan on his raid through Indiana, we 
will pursue him no further, except to say that he was fol- 
lowed in his flight through Ohio, and w^as captured near the 
eastern boundary of the State, and he and liis greatly dimin- 
ished force were confined in the Ohio Penitentiary, from 
which Morgan and seven of his men afterward escaped and 
made their way to Richmond, Virginia. 

The brilliant scheine of the Confederate General resulted 
in ])is defeat and capture, and thus ended the war in In- 
diana. 



CHAPTEE XXXI. 
After the War — Educational Advancement — Taxes. 

1 he war for the Union ended with the surrender of Gen- 
eral Lee's army, April 9, 1865, and soon afterward the Fed- 
eral soldiers began to return. As rapidly as the Indiana 
regiments were mustered out of service, they hastened to 
their homes and families. 

There was great rejoicing over the news of Lee's surren- 
der. The deep gloom that had rested over the country for 
four long years began to disperse, and the people began to 
take a more hopeful view of the future. But their rejoicing 
wac again changed to horror and gloom a few days later, 
when the news flashed over the land that President Lincoln 
had been treacherously assassinated; and when the remains 
of that great and good man were brought to Indianapolis^ 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 297 

and lay in state at the old Capitol building, thousands of 
people thronged the city to pay tribute to his greatness and 
to express their grief at his loss. 

Acain there was ioy all over the land when our soldiers 
began to arrive; there was also much sorrow, for many a 
brave man laid down his life for his country, and thousands 
of homes were made desolate. 

The general government had serious problems to solve 
concerning the South and the recently freed slaves, and the 
bitterness between the sections which this terrible war had 
caused could not be expected to disappear v/ith the laying 
down of arms. 

There were those who contended that the States could not 
secede, and that the Southern States had really never been 
out of the Union, and were therefore entitled to represen- 
tation in the General Government. Others maintained that 
since the South had seceded, it should be ruled as a con- 
quered territory, and the government of the Southern States 
reconstructed. 

I'he mass of ignorant, untrained negroes, suddenly 
thrown upon their own resources, with neither the means 
nor the ability to take care of themselves, who knew not 
what to do with their newly acquired freedom, and had no 
idea of self-government, was another grave problem which 
confronted statesmen, and it was a long time before the set- 
tled policy of the government could be defined. But as 
these matters more directly concern the General Govern- 
ment than they do Indiana, we shall not consider them here, 
but will confine ourselves to subjects immediately touching 
our own State and her people. 

The war had cost Indiana large sums of money, and it 



298 YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA 

taxed the State heavily to meet the obligations it had as- 
sumed. The business interests of the people, too, had been 
greatly disturbed by the war, and many men returned to 
find their business ruined and their farms neglected and in 
great need of repair. The question uppermost in the mind 
of every soldier was what he should do to establish liimself 
in business, and how^ he could best take care of himself and 
family. 

Many thousands returned home sick from wounds and 
disease; many of these died, while others were so broken in 
health that they could not assume the avocations for which 
they were fitted. But after a while each found his place, 
and soon the soldier settled down into the citizen and as- 
sumed the ordinary duties of citizenship. Many of the vet- 
erans emigrated to Kansas and other Western States, where 
mary of them secured la.nds from the government, and as- 
sisted in bringing about the wonderful development of the 
great West. 

Some of them returned to the business they abandoned to 
enter the army; others engaged in new enterprises, and soon 
the business of the shops and stores and farms, as well as 
that of the professions, was being conducted as though it 
had not been interrupted by four long years of cruel war. 
The sound of the drum and bugle gave place to the sounds 
of peaceful occupations, and the attention of the people was 
again turned to the development of the resources of the 
State; to the building of railroads and telegraphs, to drain- 
ing the land, improving the farms and roads, and extending 
the commerce of the State. Since that time the growth and 
development of Indiana has been strong and steady. 

But in no particular has there been greater advancement 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 299 

than along the lines of education. After the adoption of the 
Constitution of 1851, which provided for a general and uni- 
form system of common schools, the friends of education 
were earaest in their efforts to improve the condition of the 
schools in the State. The breaking out of the civil war ar- 
rested this progress for a time, but after its close the atten- 
tion of the people was again called to this matter, and laws 
wore enacted to promote the cause of education. 

In 1865, the State Normal School was established for the 
professional training of teachers. County Teachers' Insti- 
tutes were also established (the State Teachers' Institute 
was established in 1854), and the State Board of Education 
was changed to consist largely of professional educators. 

Since that time the influence of the St^te Board of Educa- 
tion has been felt throughout the State. Through its efforts 
and that of other friends of education the standard of schol- 
arship of teachers has been raised, and laws governing the 
educational afl:'airs of the State have from time to time been 
made. In 1873 the management of the school system in the 
counties was placed in the hands of County Superintend- 
ents. They were made responsible for the management of 
the school funds in their counties, and were required to visit 
the schools and look after the progress and work of the 
teachers. Marked improvement has been the result. Well 
furnished and substantial buildings have taken the place of 
the log or rough frame school-house, and the visits of the 
Superintendents have stimulated both teachers and pupila 
to greater exertion. 

In 1883, the Indiana Reading Circle was established, and 
six years later Township Teachers' Institutes Avere held, all 
of which have aided in raising the standard of education ijt 
Indiana. 



300 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

For many years tlie selection of text-books for the use of 
schools was made by the County Boards of Education, and 
as a consequence a. great number and variety of books were 
used in the public schools. In 1889 the General Assembly 
enacted a law authorizing the State Board of Education to 
act as a Text-Book Commission, and to select a uniform se- 
ries of common school text-books tO' be used by the schools 
of the State. The price of school books was thereby greatly 
reduced, and a burden lifted from off the school patrons 
caused by the frequent changes in the school books and the 
exorbitant prices charged for them by publishers and 
dealers. 

Through the efforts of the State Botird of Education, a 
system of graded schools has grown up in the State, which 
has been a great benefit to the education of the children. 
Out of this system has grown a tendency to centralize the 
schools, to abolish many of the small district schools and esr- 
tablish graded schools in central localities. The result of 
tliis effort has been most satisfactory. In some of the re- 
mote districts public conveyances are sent tO' carry the chil- 
dren to and from school, the expense being much less than 
that of maintaining schools in thinly populated districts, 
while the children are given the advantages of the gTaded 
schools 

As a result of this system of graded schools the attend- 
ance at the high schools, colleges and normals has greatly 
increased, and the needs of the children are more fully met. 

An ideal school system has been the outgrowth of these 
yeai*s of legislation, toil and struggle, which embraces three 
distinct divisions, which are called primary, secondary and 
higher education. The primary division is represented by 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 301 

the country and city graded schools, the secondary by the 
high schools in both the country and cities, the higher by 
the universities and colleges. 

This great school system, which is equaled by no other 
State in the Union, places Indiana in the advance in all edu- 
cational affairs, and has won for her the distinction of hav- 
ing established the model public school system of the United 
States. 

TAXES. 

To meet the expenses of the government, pay the public 
officers of the State, counties, townships and tov/ns, to make 
public improvements, build roads, bridges, streets, court 
houses, school-houses and jails and keep them in repair, to 
support the benevolent and reformatory institutions, to edu- 
cate the children, take care of the poor, and carry on other 
work of public benefit, there must be a fund, or an amount 
of money collected from the people of the State; and so a 
tax is levied on the private property of the ctizens and on 
that of companies and corpon'ations. 

A tax is an amount of money required to be paid by prop- 
erty-owners to meet the expense of the government. To 
levy a tax means to fix the amount to be paid on each one 
hundred dollars worth of property. This is called a prop- 
erty tax. Tliis method of raising money to pay the expense 
of the State government was not looked upon mth very 
great favor by the early settlers, who found it very difficult 
to meet this demand made upon them, but they soon grew 
accustomed to it and came to consider it a fair and equal 
measure, and it became the settled policy of the State gov- 
ernment. 



802 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

Every four years, an officer called a Township Assessor, 
together with his assistants, examines all real estate — that is, 
all lands and houses — in his township, and determines or 
-^xes their value. This is called an ^'assessment for taxa- 
tion,'' or 'Valuation of property." 

After all the Township Assessors in a county have per- 
formed this work, they make a report to the ''County Board 
of Review," which is composed of the County Assessor, 
Auditor, Clerk of the Court and two land-owners, or "free- 
holders," in the county. This Board of Review examines 
the reports of these Assessors, to see if they are correct, to 
rectify mistakes and equalize the valuation of property — 
that is, should they find that property in one township is ae^ 
sessed higher or lower than the same class of property in. an- 
other township, they equalize it, or make it the same in all 
the townships. 

After this is done, a report of the number of acres of land 
in each township, a report of the amount of the assessment 
on land and property, the number of miles of railroad in the 
county, and the names of the companies owning it, is sent 
to the Auditor of State, who places it before the State Board 
of Tax Commissioners. This board examines the reports 
sent from all the counties, to see if all assessments have been 
made according to the law, and to equalize the valuation of 
property in the different counties, just as the County Board 
of Review did among the townships, and to see that all taxes 
due the State are paid. It also levies a tax on the railroad, 
telegrajjh, telephone and other companies, and transacts 
other business connected with the taxes of the State. 

A f ter this is done, the Auditor of State sends a report to 
each County Auditor, and from this report the property in 



VOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY Of INDIANA 303 

tlie eountj is assessed. The County Auditor then makes a 
list of all persons assessed for taxes, with the value of their 
XJroperty. 

Having equalized the value of all the property in the dif- 
ferent counties, a tax of a few cents on each hundred dollars 
worth of property is levied for State purposes, which must 
be collected by the County Treasurers and paid to the State 
Treasurer. The amount of this levy is fixed by the Legisla- 
ture. 

The Board of County Commissioners, under the direction 
of the County Advisory Board, fixes the amount of county 
tax, and with the list of taxpayers and the value of their 
property, the amount due from each property-owner is esti- 
mated. This amount must be paid to the County Treasurer 
within a certain time or it becomes delinquent, and a per 
cent is added to the original amount, and if he still fails to 
pay, enough of his property may, after a certain time, be 
sold for tax. 

The Township Trustee, with the consent of. the County 
Commissioners, also levies a tax for township purposes, and 
cities and towns levy another tax for their expenses. In 
addition to the property tax, there is another tax called a 
"poll" tax, wliich is a tax collected of every person entitled 
to vote, who is under fifty years of age. The State, county, 
township and cities or towns ma}^ each assess a poll tax, 
which is added to the property tax and collected in the same 
manner. 



/• 



304 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

CIIAPTEE XXXII. 
Penal and Benevolent Institutions. 

In every country and in all times there have been men 
and women who would not obev the laws made for their 
government unless compelled to do so; for this reason a law 
would be of no use if there were no penalty for its violation. 
And so, for every law made for our government, there is a 
punishment for those who disobey it. Sometimes it is a fine, 
sometimes it is imprisonement, and in certain cases it is 
death. 

In every county in Indiana a jail has been built, where 
those arrested for crime may be placed for safe-keeping un- 
til tried by the court, and where persons guilty of small 
ofTenses may be confined as a punishment. However, not 
all persons arrested for crime are conhned in jail; for most 
offenses the accused may, with good securitj^, give bond, or 
"bail," in the payment of a certain sum of money, if he fails 
to appear to answer to the charges made against him. 

In addition to the county jails, the State has erected four 
prisons, where those convicted of crime may be sent for pun- 
ishment and reformation. These institutions are called 
*'The Indiana State Prison," 'Tlie Indiana Reformatory,'' 
"The Indiana Reform School for Boys" and ^^The Indiana 
Industrial School for Girls and Women's Prison." 

The Indiana State Prison is a prison for men. It was 
erected at Michigan City in 1860. Here all ^'life prisoners'' 
and criminals over thirty years old are sent. 

The Indiana Reformatory is situated at Jeifersonville, It 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 305 

was the first prison erected by the State. It was called the 
Indiana Penitentiary and was built in 1822. (Other build- 
ings have since been erected.) In tlie beginning all crim- 
inals, men, women, boys and girls, were sent here, whatever 
their crime may have been; hardened murderers and beys 
and girls guilty of their first offense were confined under the 
same roof. In time it became too small to contain the mass 
of law-breakers gathered there, and another prison v/as 
erected at Michigan C'ity, and later a separate prison for 
women, and reform schools for girls and boys were built. 

In 1897 the ^^indeterminate sentence" method of dealins; 
with criminals was adopted in Indiana, and the prison at 
Jeffersonville was changed into a "reformatory," while the 
prison at Michigan City remained a penitentiary. All life 
prisoners and those over thirty years old were sent to Miclii- 
gan City, and those under thirty years of age were brought 
to fleffersonville. Here the object is to try to reform these 
wrong-doers and ]nake honest citizens of them. 

Under the indeterminate system the term of imprison- 
ment is not fixed by the jury which convicts a man, or finds 
him guilty, but is determined by the Board of Prison Man- 
agers, and the time they fix depends upon ijhe conduct of the 
prisoner himself; thus by good behavior he may shorten his 
term of imprisonment, while if his conduct is vicious and 
unruly, the time is lengthened, and he may be sent to the 
prison at Michigan City and punished to the full extent of 
the law. 

The Indiana Industrial School for Girls and Women's 

Pnson is located at Indianapolis. It was established in 

1873, at which time the women and girls were taken from 

the penitentiary at Jeffei'sonville and placed there. Two 

20 



306 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

separate institutions are here combined under one manage- 
ment. In tlie Women's Prison the convicts, or criminals, 
are confined and subjected to rigid rules. The Industrial 
School for Girls, although in the same building, is complete - 
1}' and distinctly separated from the prison. Girls between 
the years of eight and sixteen, who are incorrigible or vic- 
ious, or who have been guilty of violating the law, are sent 
here to remain until they are eighteen years old, unless 
sooner placed in good homes. They are required to attend 
school and are taught to perform useful labor, and an elTort 
is made to reform them and teach them .to be honest, useful 
women. 

I'he Indiana Ee(form School for Boys is located near 
Plainfield, and was opened for the reception of boy crimin- 
als in 1868, at which time all the prisoners under sixteen 
years old were taken from the Jeffersonville Penitentiary 
and placed there. P>oys between the ages of eight and six- 
teen who have committed crime, or who are incorrigible or 
vicious, may be sent there imtil they are twenty-on© years 
old, unless sooner released for good behavior. They are re- 
quired to attend school and are taught a trade by which they 
may earn a living when they leave the school, and every ef- 
fort i? made to make good men of them. 

Each of these prisons, which are called "penal institu- 
tions," is under the control of a Board of Trustees, api)oint- 
ed by the Governor; that of the Girls' Industrial School and 
Women's Prison being composed of w^omen, the others of 
men. The Indiana State Prison is in charge of a warden, 
the others are under the care of superintendents. 

The men who framed our Constitution and made our laws 
recognized our duty to the unfortunate people of our State, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 307 

and provided tliat a number of institutions, called "Benevo- 
lent Institutions/' should be built and supported by the 
State government. 

These institutions are called '^Tlie Indiana Institution for 
the Education of the Blind," "The Indiana Institution for 
the Education of the Deaf," "The Indiana Soldiers' and 
Sailors' Orphans' Home," "The State Soldiers' Home," 
"The School for Eeeble-Minded Youth," and four Hospitals 
for the Insane, located respectively at Indianapolis, Logans- 
I^ort, Evansville and Bichmond. Largo and appropriate 
buildings have been erected at each of these places, and here 
the men and women who have lost their reason from disease 
and other causes are cared for by physicians and attendants 
employed by the State. 

The Central Hospital for the Insane is the oldest of these 
hospitals; it was built in 1847, and stands in the midst of 
large and beautiful grounds west of the city of Indianapolis. 
Here more than a thousand patients are constantly cared 
f o^\ Large as this hospital is, it is not large enough to con- 
tain all that class of unfortunates, and in 1881 the Legisla- 
ture appropriated money to build three other hospitals for 
the insane. One of these was built at Logansport and is 
called "The ISTorthern Hospital for the Insane," or "Long- 
cliff;" one at Evansville, called "The Southern Hospital for 
the Insane," and one at Richmond, called "The Eastern 
Hospital for the Insane." At each of these institutions the 
patients receive the same care and attention given tliose at 
the Central Hospital. 

The Indiana Institution for the Education of the Blind 
was established by an act of the Legislature in 1841-45. In 
the beginning the school was conducted in a rented build- 



808 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

ing; afterward ground was purchased at Indianapolis, and 
in 1850 the present buikling was coinpleted. It was then 
considered quite '^out of town," hut now it stands in the 
heart of the city, in the midst of beautiful and well kept 
grounds. Boys and girls under the age of twenty-one years 
are admitted to this school and are taught to read by the aid 
of the fingers. Many other useful things are taught, music 
receiving special attention, and some of the pupils become 
skillful musicians. Besides music and lessons from books, 
they are taught to perform many kinds of work which are 
useful to them in after life. 

The Indiana Institution for the Education of the Deaf 
^\ as established about the same time the school for the blind 
was opened. The Legislature adopted a private school 
which was being conducted at Indianapolis, and purchased 
a tract of land east of the city, and in 1850 the main portion 
of the present building was completed. Here those bojs 
and girls who are unable to hear or speak are educated in 
the "sign language." They, too, are taught trades and dif- 
erent kinds of employment. 

Indiana has always been among the first to care for her 
unfortunate citizens. Ours was the first State in the Union 
to provide a State institution for the insane and the fii^t to 
establish a separate prison for women. Nor has she forgot- 
ten those who risked their lives to defend the Union, but has 
established homes for the Union veterans and theii* widows 
and orplian children. 

The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home. — Im- 
mediately after the close of the civil war a soldiers' home 
was established by private subscription at what was known 
as the "Knightstown Springs," in Bush County. Soon the 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 309 

orphan children of soldiers were also admitted, and all were 
supported by private means. 

In 1867 the Legislature assumed the support of the home, 
and it became the property of the State. In IS 72 the sol- 
diers were removed to the E'ational Home at Dayton, Ohio, 
and the children were left in possession of the home at 
Knightstown. A. few years later the feeble-minded chil- 
dren of the State were also included at the home, but were 
soon removed to a separate institution. 

Since that tinie the institution has remained the Indiana 
Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home. Twice the buildings 
have been destroyed by fire and new ones erected in their 
places. At this home the orphan children of Union sohliers 
and sailors are educated and taught some useful trade by 
which they may become self-supporting. 

The Indiana State Soldiers' Home. — From the time the 
soldiers were removed from the home at Knightstown until 
the year 1895 there was no State home for soldiers in In- 
diana. A 'National home had been located at Marion, In- 
diana, but it soon became crowded. Through the influence 
of the Grand Anny of the Eepublic the Legislature of 1895 
enacted a law to establish a State home for needy veterans 
and their wives and widows. About 250 acres of land was 
donated to the State by the citizens of LaFayette and Tippe- 
canoe Coimty, through the Grand Army of the Republic, 
and here, near the Tippecanoe battle-ground, where General 
Harrison and the Territorial troops defeated the designs of 
Tecumseh and the Prophet and destroyed the power of the 
Indians in Indiana, a home for the Union veterans and their 
wives and widows has been established. 

The School for Feeble-Minded Youth. — There yet re- 



310 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

mains anotlier class of unfortunate children — ^tte most un- 
fortunate of all — for which the State has provided. In 
1887, the Legislature appropriated money for the erection 
of a Home for the feeble-minded children of the State, to 
be located at Foi't WajniO; As sooai las completed these 
children were taken from the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' 
Home and placed in this institution, where they are care- 
fully taught such things as they can understand. Those 
who are capable of learning are taught various kinds of 
work. Each of these institutions is under the management 
of a Boaird of Trustees appointed by the Governor. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

The State Militia.— War with Spain. 

It was very necessary in the early days of Indiana, that 
the people should unite and form some kind of an organiza- 
tion by which they could defend themselves against the at- 
tacks of the savages, and while yet a territory, military 
companies were formed for this purpose, and were called the 
militia. 

The word "militia" means "a body of men in a State, en- 
rolled for discipline, but engiaged in actual service only in 
emergencies," thus differing from the "regulars" or United 
States troops, whose occupation is war, or military service. 

The Territorial militia was frequently called into service 
to quell the Indian outbreaks. AVhen Indiana became a 
State, the Indian troubles were still fresh in the Memories 
of the people; in fact there was still danger from some of 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 311 

the dissatisfied tribes who were jealous of the approach of 
tho whites and still clung to their old hunting-grounds along 
the rivers and streams. 

When the State Constitution was adopted in 1816, it pro- 
vided for a State militia, and the early Governo'rs, in their 
messages to the Legislature, urged that companies be 
formed, that in case of war with the savages, or any foreign 
power, they might be prepared to meet it. 

For several years the militia force was strong in Indiana. 
In 1828 there were sixty-five regiments, organized into 
seven divisions, with about 40,000 men and officers, and in 
1832, the total number of officers and men was 50,913. 
The Legislature enacted laws for the government of the 
Militia, which provided that it should meet at stated tiniea 
for a general muster and drill; this was supposed to keep 
alive the military spirit. Members of the militia absent 
from muster were liable to a fine, and for years the drills 
were kept up. Next to the fourth of July, ^ ^Muster Day'* 
was the greatest holiday of the year, and the drills, the most 
exciting show. 

It must indeed, have been an imposing sight to see these 
companies of men marching down the street to the sound of 
the fife and drum while the gallant officers in hright uni- 
forms and shoulder-straps, with plumes in their hats and 
swords by their sides, dashed up and down the lines on spir- 
ited horses, to the general delight of the spectators. !N'ot 
unfrequently sham battles were fought, and then the inter- 
est grew most intense, and they were cheered to the echo by 
the admiiing throng. True, the rank and file, that is, the 
common soldiers, had not much to boast of in the way of 
uniform, aoid often the squirrel rifle took the place of mus- 



312 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

ket in the drill, but this did not matter mucli to the enthusi- 
astic on-lookers. 

The State troops accomplished but little, however, after 
the Indian troubles were settled, except to give a holiday 
now and then to the hard-working men and women, and per- 
haps furnish an opportunity for politicians to electioneer 
for their favorite candidates, and not unfrcquently the holi- 
day ended in a street fight, or other disgraceful scenes, 
Avhicli brought the militia into disrepute. Besides this, it 
was an expense to keep up the organization, and required a 
vast amount of time to perfect the drills, and the citizens as 
well as the members of the militia lost interest in it, and in 
1834 the organization was abandoned. 

"When war was declared against Mexico in 1846, the mili- 
tary spirit of the people was again stirred, and the militia 
was reorganized. During the years 1846-47, five regiments 
were formed under Governor AYhitcomb. After the close 
of the Mexican War, a number of laws were enacted gov- 
erning the militia, based on the Constitution of 1851, but 
they were ineffectual, and when the war for the Union be- 
gan in 186 J, there were probably not more than a dozen 
companies, composed of about 500 men, in the State. After 
the close of the war, the militia organizations were con- 
tinued. 

The State militia is now called the '^Indiana National 
Guards,'' and the Governor is the Commander-in-Chief and 
appoints and commissions all the officers. lie may call 
these ti'oops out whenever he considers it necessary, to sup- 
press a riot or repel an invasion, and they must obey the 
call at once. The law divides the militia into two classes — 
called the "sedentary," and "active." The active militia 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 313 

is the body of men who have actually enlistod and been 
mustered iato the Indiana National Guards. The seden- 
tary militia, is composed of all the able-bodied men in In- 
diana, between the ages of eighteeoi and forty-five years, 
who do not belong to the active militia. The State has 
the right to demand the service of all such men if needed. 

A man who enlists in the Indiana National Guards must 
serve for three years unless s'ooner discharged. After serv- 
ing his term of enlistment, he may re-enlist for two years, 
but no longer. After sending the secoaid term of enlist- 
ment, he may be put on the '^retired list.'' 

The Indiana National Guards may consist of not more 

than forty-eight companies of infantry, three batteries of 

artillery, one signal corps, one hospital corps, and a band of 

. musicians for each regiment, and each battalion of artillery. 

A company of infantry is <2omposed of not more than 
seventy-two privates, a captain, two lieutenants, ^yq ser- 
geants, four corporals, and one clerk. Four companies 
make a battalion and three battalions, or twelve companies 
make a regiment, which is commanded by a colonel. A 
battery consists of not more than thirty-two privates, a cap- 
tain, two lieutenants and other officers. 

The highest officer in the Indiana National Guards is a 
Brigadier-General, who commands the four regiments. 
^ Companies may be formed at any place ; in case there should 
not be a sufficient number of enlistments at one place to 
form an entire company, parts of companies may be formed; 
these are called '^platoons." The State furnishes arms and 
uniforms for the use of the officers and men, but while they 
are used by the troops, they are still the property of the 
State, and must be returned to the Quartermaster-General, 
wlienever requested to do so. 



314 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The Brigadier-Genea-al may, Avitli the approval of the 
Governor, order an encampment to be held for one week, at 
any place he may select within the State, which all the ac- 
tive militia members are required to attend. The State fur- 
nishes the tents, bedding and food for the troops, and they 
are drilled every day and are subject to all the rules that 
govern the regular army. 

The Governor appoints an Adjutant-Geneiral and Quar- 
termaster-General, who have offices in the State House, and 
keep the supplies and records of the Indiana National 
Guards. Each of these officers receives a salary for their 
services. The members of the militia receive no pay except 
when in camp, or in the active service of the State. Should 
the Governor order out the State militia, or any part of it, 
the men must obey the call at once. 

During the administration of Governor Matthews the In- 
diana JSTational Guards was thrice called out — once to quiet 
a disturbance among the coal-miners in the southwestern 
part of the State, once at the time of the railroad strikes in 
July, 1894, and again to enforce the laws of the State at 
Roby, in Lake County. 

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 

When the war between the United States and Spain be^ 
gan, and you looked on your map for the Island of Cuba, 
were you not surprised to find that Havana lies almost due 
south of the eastern part of Indiana, and that after leaving 
the coast of Florida, a few hours' sail across the Gulf of 
Ifexico would land vou on the shores of an island which was 
ruled by a government across the ocean? 

Ever since the Island of Cuba was discovered, it had been 
in the possession of the Spaniards, but for many yeai's it 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 315 

was SO badlj goveirned that it was the scene of frequent 
revolutions, which greatly annoyed its neighbors, the Amer- 
icans. According to the laws which govern nations, the 
United States was required to prevent any war vessels from 
being fitted out in our country for the use of the Cubans 
against the Spanish government. The Spanish officials 
were so cruel in dealing with the enemies of Spain, that 
many Cuban patriots removed to the United States and from 
this safe distance, incited and encouraged revolution in 
Cuba. Many Americans who lived in Cuba, or held prop- 
erty interests there, suffered greatly at the hands of the 
Spanish rulers, and for years the sentiment among Amer- 
icans has been that Spain must relinquish her claim to Cuba 
and grant independence to the island. 

The last revolution in Cuba was accompanied by such out- 
rages as caused the United States Congress to seriously con- 
sider the matter of interference. While this subject was 
agitating the minds of the people and the President was 
trying to bring about Cuban independence, the entire coun- 
try was thrown into intense excitement by the news of the 
destruction of the warship Maine, in Havana Harbor, Feb- 
ruary 15, 1898, supposed to be caused by the friends of 
Spain. 

Naturally this event hastened the demand made by Con- 
gress that Spain withdraw her forces from the Island of 
Cuba, This Spain refused to do, and Congress declared 
war against the government of Spain, April 19, 1898. Four 
days later President McKinley issued a call for 125,000 
volunteers; of this number Indiana's quota was four regi- 
ments of infantry and two batteries of artillery. How did 
she respond? 



316 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY 01^ INDIANA. 

On the afternoon of April 25tli, Governor Mount ordered 
the Indiana IN^ational Guard to assemble at Indianapolis, 
and called for volunteers. At sunrise the next day the 
Frankfort Company, commanded by Captain D. F. Allen, 
reached Indianapolis, and all day long the troops poured 
into the city. It was a repetition of the response to Gov- 
ernor Morton's call for volunteers thirty-seven years before. 
Many thousand men offered to enlist who were not allowed 
to go. A month later a call was made for 75^,000 addi- 
tional volimteers. In response to this call Indiana fur- 
nished one regiment and could have furnished many more. 

The Indiana Regiments were designated and commanded 
as follows: One Hundred and Fifty-seventh, Colonel 
George M. Studebaker; One Hundred and Firty-eighth, 
Colonel Harry B. Smith; One Hundred Fifty-ninth, Col- 
onel John F. Bamett; One Hundred Sixtielth, Colonel 
George W. Gunder; One Hundred Sixty-first, Colonel Win- 
field T. Durbin. Captain James B. Curtis commanded the 
Twenty-seventh and Captain William F. Ranke commanded 
the Twenty-eighth Battery. Will J. McKee was appointed 
Brigadier-General by President McKinley. Two com- 
panies of colored men were recruited, commanded by Cap- 
tains J. M. Porter and John M. Buckner. One company 
of engineers and one signal cor^Ds were also recruited in the 
State. 

The total number of officers and men in these commands 
w^as 7,301. Of these the Curtis Battery was the only one 
in active service, although Indiana's regiments were among 
the first to be ready to march. In addition to the State 
re-ximents, Indiana furnished the regular araiy with hun- 
dreds of men who participated in all the battles fought. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 8l7 

One of the most brilliant officers of the war, Major-General 
Henry W. Lawton, is an Indianian, who, after four years of 
service in the war for the Union, joined tlie United States 
army. 

The war with Spain did not last long. The Spanish navj 
was destroyed at Manila and Santiago, and its army soon 
lost courage. The protocol, which is the name given to the 
first paper containing an outline of the terms of peace, was 
signed at Washington, August 12, 1898. 



CHAPTER XXXIY. : 
Courts — Elections. 

When people are gathered together in a town or a coun- 
try, it is necessary th»at laws should be made to govern their 
conduct, in order to protect their lives and property, 'and to 
secure them from unjust treatment. Laws would be of no 
use if they were not enforced, and for this reason courts are 
established to decide what is lawful, and to compel people 
to obey the laws made for their government. 

The first law^s which governed the inhabitants of the pres- 
ent State of Indiana, were made by the Urench Command- 
ants at Post Yincennes. They were purely military laws 
and the officer making them had power to execute them. 
When the Xorthwestem Territory became the property of 
the United States, a Governor and two Judges were ap- 
pointed and given the power to adopt such laws of the orig- 
inal States as they thought were suited to the needs of the 
settlers. The first of these laws were published in 1788. 



318 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

The Governor and Judges continued to make the laws until 
the Territorial Legislature was formed in 1799. In 1800 
the JsTorth western Territory was divided and Indiana Terri- 
tory was formed, when the power to adopt the laws was 
again given to the Territorial Governor and Judges. This 
form of law-making continued until 1805, when the Indiana 
T3rritorial Legislature was organized, after which the Rep- 
reseiitatives and Legislative Council made the laws until 
Indiana became a State, and a State Legislature was or- 
ganized. 

The first court in Indiana was established by Colonel 
John Todd, who was Lieutenant of the 'Tllinois County,'' 
as the territory northwest of the Ohio was called. The 
com-t was composed of the Commandant of Fort Yincennes 
and several magistrates, who had power to enforce, as well 
as to make the laws. 

The first general court of Indiana Territory was opened 
at Yincennes in 1801, by the Territorial judges. It was 
very difficult to enforce the law in so large a territory, espe- 
cially in places distant from the seat of government, so the 
Legislature divided the country into three parts called 
"Judicial,'' or "Court Circuits," and arranged for holding 
court in each circuit. The Governor appointed a judge 
from every county in each of these court circuits, whose 
duty it was 'to hold court in the county to which lie be- 
longed. 

The State Constitution of 181 G provided for a more ex- 
tensive court system. The State was divided into three 
"circuits," and the Legislature elected a judge for each 
circuit, who was called a presiding judge, and was supposed 
to be very learned in the law. The people in every county 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 319 

elected two associate judges, who were not necessarily law- 
yers. 

Tlie presiding judge traveled tlirougli liis circuit, and 
witli the assistance of the associate judges held court in 
every county. Each court circuit was very large, being 
composed of a number of counties; the counties themselves 
were much larger than they now are, so judges and lawyers 
were obliged to travel long distances on horse-back, through 
thinly settled parts of the country to attend court; and when 
they completed the circuit, they began over again, just as 
the "circuit riders'' did. 

On these journeys they often stopped at some settler's 
cabin to spend the night. These humble homes were al- 
ways open to travelers who brought them news froan the 
outside world, and broke the monotony of their lives. Many 
of these lawyers were fine story-tellers, and to while away 
the long evenings, and to make themselves agreeable to 
their entertainers, they gathered with the family around 
the bright blazing logs in the open fire-place, and told them 
bits of their own experience, or stories they had read, or 
heard, or imagined, until far into the night. This was a 
favorite pastime in those days, when books and papers were 
scarce, and a good story-teller w^as always a welcome guest. 
The next morning the travelers continued their journey, 
and when they reached the place where they were to hold 
court, they often found no court-house, and the sessions 
were held at the cabin of a settler, or under the shelter of 
the trees. 

Besides these circuit courts, a Supreme Court was organ- 
ized. This was the highest court in the State, and consisted 
of three supreme judges, who held court at the State cap- 



320 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

ital. As tlie population of the State increased, other conn- 
ties were organized, the circuits were divided and the num- 
ber of courts increased ; thus iilie circuits became smaller and 
ths number of judges greater. There are at present fifty- 
five "court cii'cuits" in Indiana, some of them consisting of 
two or three counties, others of but one. This number 
may be changed by the Legislature whenever it is consid- 
ered necessary. 

The Justice's Court. — The lowest court in the State, is 
held by the Justice of the Peace, elected by the voters of a 
township, who ueed not be a lawyer. Every township has 
one Justice of the Peace, and may have three. A suit for 
more than $200 cannot be brought before a Justice of the 
Peace, and only persons accused of small offenses can be 
tried by him; those accused of greater crimes may be 
brought before him and "bound over to court" — that is, 
their case is sent to the "Circuit Court," to be tried by the 
judge of the circuit. 

A constable is elected for every Justice of the Peace, who 
obeys his orders, and has power to arrest any person he sees 
commit a disorderly or criminal act. In most cities the 
Mayor may try all cases that can be tried by the Justice of 
the Peace.. 

The Circuit Court. — In every county there is a Circuit 
Court, where all cases are tried which cannot be brought be- 
fore a Justice of the Peace. The Circuit Judge presides 
over this court. Criminals are tried in the Circuit Court, 
and in case of the death of a person owning property, his 
estate is settled through this court. The records of the Cir- 
cuit Court are kept by the Coimty Clerk, and the Sheriff 
executes its orders. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 321 

Tlie Judge does not always decide cases tried before him, 
although he must ahvays be present at the trial; the Consti- 
tution gives evQry citizen the right to a trial by jury, in all 
cases. A jury consists of twelve men selected to decide the 
case, and must be citizens of the county where the trial is 
held. After they have heard all that the witnesses on bo'th 
sides have to say — which is called the testimony — they re- 
tire to a room called the ^^jury-room," and discuss the case 
and decide whait shall be done with it. When the jury 
does not agree, the case must be tried over again. 

The Superior Court. — Sometimes there is too much busi- 
ness in a county for the Circuit Court to perform, and the 
Legislature creates a court called the ^'Superior Court." 
These Supeiior Courts are higher than the Justices' C'ourts, 
but not so high as tlie Circuit Courts. They cannot try 
criminal cases, nor settle estates; in other respects they are 
mach like the Circuit Courts. But few counties in Indiana 
have Superior Courts. 

The Criminal Court. — In Marion County, in which In- 
dianapolis is situated, there is a court called the "Criminal 
Court,'' w'hich only tries persons charged with crime. In 
this county the Circuit Court does not try this clas© of per- 
sons. 

The Supreme Court. — The Supreme Court is the highest 
court in the State. It holds its sessions in the State House 
in Indianapolis. This court has ^ve Judges elected by the 
people, and a clerk called the Clerk of the Supreme Court, 
who is also elected by the people. The officer who exet- 
cutes the orders of this court is called the Sheriff of the 
Supreme Court and is appointed by the Judges. 

The Supreme Court only tries cases which are appealed 

9J 



322 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

from the Circuit Court; that is, when a party to a law-suit 
is dissatisfied with the decision of the Judge or the jury, he 
can carry it to the Supreme Court, to be -tried by the Su- 
preme Judges. This is called an appeal. The testimony 
of tlie witnesses and all the proceedings of the Circuit Court 
are carefully written out, and forwarded through the proper 
persons, to the Supreme Court, and examined by the Su- 
preme Judges, who determine whether the case has been 
fairly tried according to the law; if so, they ''confirm the 
decision of the lower court" — that is, they declare that the 
case has been properly tried, and fairly decided, and there 
can be no further action. If, however, they find that the 
proceedings do not conform to the law, or if mistakes have 
been made in the trial, they ''reverse the decision" — that is, 
they send it back to be tried again. This coui't also decides 
whether the laws made by the Legislature are in haamony 
with the Constitution. 

The Appellate Court. — -There is another State court 
called the Appellate Court, created temporarily, to assist the 
Supreme Judges to bring up the work of the Supreme 
Court, and is comj^osed of Appellate Judges elected by the 
people. The proceedings of this court are conducted much 
lil:e that of the Supreme Court. 

Attorneys at law, or lawyers, as they are commonly 
called, are men supposed to be learned in the law, who are 
employed to represent those who have cases in court. The 
person who employs an attorney is called a "client," and 
the lawyer employed looks after the interests of his client 
and sees that he is fairly treated. The person making com- 
plaint to the court is called the "plaintiff;" the person of 
whom he complains is called the "defendant," because it is 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 323 

left for him to defend himself against the charges made. 
The decision of the jury is called the ''verdict." 

The Grand Jury. — There is another court in each county 
in Indiana, called the ''Court of the Grand Jury," which is 
composed of six men, called "Grand Jurors." They hold 
secret sessions to investigate and determine if any person 
has committed a crime in the county. They prescribe no 
penalty, or punishment for those guilty of violating the law, 
but draw up an "indictment," or complaint, and upon thi3 
they are tried in the Circuit Court. 

Supreme Judges are elected for six years; Circuit Judges 
for six years; i\ppellate Judges for four yeairs; Superior 
Judges for four years; Justices of the Peace for four years. 

ELECTIONS. 

Every two years a general State and County election is 
held in Indiana. The time fixed by law for these elections, 
is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in N^ovember of 
tlie evenly numbered years. Town elections are held on 
the first Monday, and most city elections on the first Tuesr 
day in May, each alternate year. To prevent illegal voting, 
each county, city and town is divided into small districts 
called "precincts." Each precinct contains not more than 
two hundred and fifty, nor less than two hundred voters. 
Eor convenience, the precincts may be changed from time 
to time. 

Each voter in Indiana must be a citizen of the United 
States, and must have lived in the State for at least six 
months preceding the election. He must also have lived in 
the township sixty days, and in the precinct thirty days 
preceding the day of the election. All men (excep*t idiots 



324 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and criminals) who have reached the age of twenty-one 
years, who are citizens of the United States, who have lived 
in tlie State six months, in the township sixty days and in 
the precinct thirty days, are entitled to vote at all national, 
State and county elections. 

Before the day of election, a canvass is made by commit- 
tees from each political pairty, and the name of evcTy man 
entitled to vote, and the political party to which he belongs, 
is carefully recorded, and the records kept at the ^^polls," as 
the voting places are called, on election day; and if any 
suspicious person should attempt to vote, he may be chal- 
lenged; that is, objections to his vote may be made, and he 
must prove to the satisfaction of the election officers, that he 
is a legal voter, before he is allowed to votei. 

The Board of County Commissioners appoints an elec- 
tion board for every precinct, consisting of an inspector and 
two judges, whose duty it is to preside at elections and see 
that they are conducted according to law. This boiard ap- 
points two clerks, called ^'poll clerks," who each keep a list 
of the names of persons voting, and of the number of votes 
cast for each candidate. Each clerk must also write his 
initials on the back of every ballot cast. 

A ballot, is a paper on which the names of candidates lane 
printed. The State furnishes the ballots on which are 
printed the names of the candidates for all State offices, and 
the counties fmmish the ballots on which are printed the 
names of the candidates for Congress, and for county and 
township offices. AVhen a man wishes to vote, he is given 
one of these printed ballots; with a pencil he marks oppo- 
site the name of the candidate for whom he desires to vote, 
and it is placed in the ballot box. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 325 

"When tlie polls are closed — that is, when the time has 
passed which is allowed for holding the election, the ballots 
are counted and burned, and the members O'f the election 
bo'ard sign the record lof each clerk. The inspector takes 
one of these records, or certificates, as they are called, and 
one of the judges takes the other, and on Thursday follow- 
ing tlie election, the inspector meets all the other inspectoi-s 
in the county, at the court-house, and together they count 
all the votes cast in the county. 

When this is done, they make out a ce'rtiiicate showing 
the result of the election, which they sign and give to the 
clerk of the court. From this report the clerk makes out a 
certificate of the number of votes in the county cast for can- 
didates for State offices, and sends it to the 'Secretary of 
State. From these reports sent from the various counties, 
the result of the vote for State officers is obtained. 

The people do not vote directly for the President and 
Vice-President of the United States, but vote for what are 
called "Flectors." In each State the nuanber of electors is 
equal to the number of Senators and Representatives which 
the State has in Congress; for example, Indiana, like every 
State, has two Senators, and also has thirteen Pepresenta- 
tives to Congress, so the number of electors to which our 
State is entitled is fifteen. Two of these electors are nom- 
inated by the parties in their State Conventions, and are 
called "electors at large," and the party conventions in each 
district nominate one elector. The nameS' of these electors 
are printed on the State ticket, or ballot, and voted for, tlie 
same as are other candidates. 

On a certain day the electors meet at the State capital, 
and each one votes for the candidates for President and 



526 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

A'ice-Presiclent, which his party has nominated. A copy of 
the result of this vote is sent in a sealed package to the Vice- 
President of the United States, who is also President of the 
Senate, and on a given day both houses of Congress meet 
togethei*, and tellers are appointed to count the votes. The 
Vice-President breaks the seals of all the packages received 
from all the States and reads the results, which the tellers 
record. 

When all the reports, or returns have been read and re- 
corded, and the result obtained, the Vice-President an- 
nounces that the candidate Avho has received the largest 
vote for President, and the candidate who has received the 
largest vote for A'ice-President, are elected, and a certificate 
of that fact is signed by him. That completes the election 
of President and Vice-President of the United States. The 
man who is elected must have a majority of all the votes 
cast; that is, he must have at least one more than half of 
all the votes. If it should happen tliat no candidate has a 
majority, then the United States House of Pepresentatives 
must elect the President and the Senate must elect the Vice- 
Prefeident, from the candidates voted for by the electors. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Roads and Highways — Drainage. 

One of the greatest difficulties which the early settlers 
hud to encounter was the lack of roads through the country. 
Tlie Indian trails, which were simply paths through the for- 
ests, made by the Indians as they traveled from one Indian 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 327 

village to another, along tlie rivers and otlier streams, were 
tlie first roads in Indiana. When the settlers came they 
made ro'adways by cutting down such trees as stood in the 
way, and marked them by '^blazing," or chopping the trees 
which stood on either side. Xo attempt was made to im- 
prove the roads, and the gTOund was so soft that in some 
seasons of the year these roads were almost, if not quite im- 
passable. In marshy places, small trees, or "saplings'' were 
cut down, chopped into pieces of the required length, and 
placed side by side across the road, to keep the horses and 
oxen from miring in the mud; these were called "corduroy 
roads.'' 

As the country settled the people of a neighborhood 
united and built roads by throwing up the ground, filling in. 
the lovr places with dirt and digging trenches to carry off 
the water. These were called "dirt roads." They were an 
improvement over the "blazed" roadways, but they too, be- 
came almost impassable during some seasons of the year. 

The lack of good roads gTeatly retarded the commerce of 
the country. The internal improvement system which, 
bankrupted the State, was the outgrowth of this need. The 
bailding of the National and Michigan roads greatly ad- 
vanced the development of Indiana and many plans were 
adopted for the improvement of the road system, all of 
which were helpful, and the drainage of the land did much 
to aid in producing good roads, by carr^^ing off the water 
and allowing the ground to become dry and solid. 

In building roads in Indiana, different materials were 
used. Po.rtions of the National and Michigan roads, were 
built of planks, made from the great trees which covered 
the ground. In some places charcoal was used for a road- 



328 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

bed, but botli tliese materials were unsatisf acto-ry ; crusbed 
stone and OTavel were found to^ be tbe best material for 
road makings and as tbe country abounds in ricb deposits of 
gra\'el, it bas become tbe cbief material used for country 
roads. 

The first gravel roads in Indiana, were built by private 
companies, and were tbe beginning of tbe present excellent 
road system. Tbe companies, or corporations wbicb built 
and i^ept tbem in repair, built toll-bouses a few miles apart, 
in wbicli a toll-keeper lived, wbo collected a small fee from 
tbose wbo traveled tbe road on borse-back, or in carriages 
or wagons, and for all stock driven over tbe road. Tbis 
kept up tbe expenses of tbe roads, and often paid tbe com- 
panies owning tbem a good profit on tbe money invested. 

Toll ro'ads were operated for several years, but were 
finally purchased by tlie counties tbrougb wbicb tbey 
passed, and were made free to tbe public, tbe expense of 
keeping tbem in repair being paid by a tax on tbe property 
of those who lived in the vicinity of the road. 

In locating roads for the use of the public, the Board of 
County Commissioners have the power to determine where 
the road shall be built. The people in a community desir- 
ing a road, send a ^^petition,'' or written request for a road, 
signed by the citizens, to the commissioners, who, upon re- 
ceiving it, appoint men, called ^'road viewers," to examine 
the proposed roadway, and decide if it is for the best interest 
of the majority of the people of that community, tliat sucJi 
a road should be built, and to locate the route. 

If they report in favor of building it, the persons through 
whose land it passes, are allowed damages. Like the 
ditches, road-making has caused much ^ ^litigation," or law 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 829 

suits among the settlers in Indiana. After tlie commis- 
sioners have decided where a road shall be located, the tinis- 
teos of the townships through which it passes, must order it 
opened, and put in condition for travel. Every townsliip is 
divided into road districts, and a road supervisor appointed 
in each district, whose duty it is to see that roads are opened 
and kept in repair. 

Every able-bodied man in the State, who is between the 
years of twenty-one and fifty, is required to work on the 
public roads in his district, from two to four days every 
year, or hire a substitute to work in his place. Those re- 
fusing to woa*k, or furnish a substitute, may be arrested and 
fined. The road supervisor superintends the work and noti- 
fies the men when they are expected to work on the roads. 
Idiots, insane, deaf and dumb and blind men are not re- 
quired to work on roads or to furnish substitutes. 

A tax is levied on each one hundred dollars' worth of 
property in a township for the purpose of keeping the roads 
in repair. ^Vhen the people living near a public road, or 
highway, wish to have it made a free gravel road, they sign 
a petition, or written request, which they send to the Board 
of County Commissioners, who appoint men to investigate 
the case and decide whether, in their opinion, it is for the 
public welfare to build it. If they report favorably, the 
people whose land lies within a certain distance of the road, 
and who will be benefited by it, are taxed to procure money 
with which to build ic. All bridges costing more than $25 
are built and kept in repair by the county, smaller ones by 
the townshi]3S. 

Before the adoption of the present State Constitution, the 
Legislature made laws for building roads between certain 



330 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

important places, and many roads were built under them. 
The Ligliways are the property of the public, and can be 
used for no other purpose. A person obstructing, or dam- 
aging them in any way, may be airested and fined. 

DRAINAGE. 

Before the country was settled — before Indiana became a 
State, and for a long time afterward, the land was very wet. 
]\tiles and miles of swamps, thickly grown up in brushwood 
and timber, among which lay fallen trees, overgrown with 
tangled vines and mosses, and covered with stagnant water 
the greater part of the year, were found in many parts of 
the State-. 

The country was full of streams that frequently over- 
flowed their banks, and during times of heavy rains much 
of the land was covered with water, which, having no out- 
let, sank into the ground and made it unfit for cultivation. 
'Not only this, but the vapors arising from this stagnant and 
impure water, filled the air with poisonous matter which 
made it very unhealthful, and caused much sickness among 
the settlers. This gave Indiana the reputation of being a 
very undesirable place in which to live. 

When the land in Indiana was surveyed and placed on 
sale, so much of this swamp land was considered worthless, 
that Congress donated 1,2G4,833 acres of it to the State. 
To induce the settlers to drain the swamps, it was offered to 
them at a very low price, providing they would dig drains 
or trenches which would allow the water to flow from off the 
land ; at the same time, the cost of the ditches was deducted 
from the price of the land. 

By and by, when farms were cleared, the settlers began 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 331 

to see the necessity of draining the entire country to get rid 
cf the surphis water, and prevent the streams from over- 
floAving the country and damaging the land and crops; so 
they began to dig trendies, or ditches through their farms, 
ending them at some creek, or other natural outlet. In 
some localities where there were no such natural outlets for 
the water, very large ditches, like small canals, were dug — 
some of them many miles in length, and ending at some 
creek or river ; these wci^ left open, and the smaller ditches 
emptied into them. These small ditches were covered with 
dirt as are most of the ditches to-day. 

In the beginning, after a ditch was dug, pieces of tim- 
ber were placed on both sides of the trench, ajnd on the top 
of these, reaching from one side to the other, were placed 
other pieces of timber, which made a box-like opening in 
the middle of the ditch, through which the water flowed, 
and prevented the dirt from falling in and filling up the 
trench. After the timbers were in place, the dirt was 
thrown back iiito the trench and the ground cultivated as 
though it had not been disturbed. Later on, the manufac- 
ture of tile for ditch purposes, filled a long-felt want, and is 
nov/ generally used for drainage. 

The drainage of the land has caused a great amount of 
trouble in the country. Laws were made which authorized 
the proper officers to order ditches made wherever it seemed 
be&t for the public welfare, and the land owners who were 
supposed to be benefited by them, were taxed to pay the cost. 
This was not always agreeable, and law-suits and neighbor- 
hood quan'els were often the result; but the country was 
greatly benefited, and farmers now realize that only by 
good drainage can land be made to yield the surest crops. 



332 YOtNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

And so from this custom of ditching tlie land, a great 
system of underground drainage lias grown up in Indiana. 
Could we look a few feet beneath the surface of the ground, 
V. e would he interested to see the wonderful net-work of 
tile, which carries off the water that falls upon the grouiiid. 
There are thousands of miles of it, and it is impossible to 
estimate the value these underground drains are to the 
country. They have carried off the excess of water from 
the land; the swamps have been drained by them and are 
now the most fertile parts of the country. Many of the 
small streams have entirely disappeared, and but seldom is 
there much damage done by floods, except in the region of 
the larger rivers and streams. 

By this system of drainage the climate has been made 
healthful, and chills and fever, once the bane of Indiana, 
are Seldom heard of. 



CHAPTER XXXYI. 

Physical Indiana — Natural Resources. 

The name ^Tndiana" came from the word Indian, and of 
all the States in the Union, none have so pleasing a name to 
tlie native "Iloosier." Just when the name was first ap- 
plied to any part of the territory is not certainly known, but 
it is said that a company of traders who bought from the 
Indians a tract of land lying along the Ohio River, called 
it 'Tndiana" — adding the final ''a" to give it a feminine 
s^;und, and from this the Territory, and afterward the State 
was named. However this may be, it is an appropriate 
name, and one of which we may well be proud. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 333 

Y/e have traced the development of Indiana from tlie 
time of its earliest exploration until it became a great and 
prosperous State ; now, let iis talk about its physical aspects 
— that is, the surface of tlie country and its natural re- 
sources. 

Indiana is situated in tlie center of what is called tlie 
"Great Central Basin of Kortli America/' at nearly an 
equal distance from tlie Mississippi River on tlie west, and 
the Alleghany Mountains on the east, and from the Gulf of 
Mexico on the south, and the "Water-Sheds" between the 
Great Lakes and Hudson Bay on the north. 

The general character of the country is a gently undu- 
lating, or wave-like plain, with a gradual slope toward the 
southwest. There are no mountains in Indiana, but in the 
southern counties along the Ohio River, there is a line of 
hills extending back into the country from ton to thirty 
miles. These hills are called "The Knobs;" they are very 
picturesque, and some of them rise to a height of !four or 
five hundred feet above low water in the river. 

From the Ohio River to the Wabash, the country was at 
one time almost entirely covered with a heavy growth of 
forest trees, through whose low spreading branches the ^-un- 
light could scarcely penetrate, causing a perpetual twilight 
by day and intense darkness by night, while in many places 
a dense growth of brushwood, made travel very difficult, 
indeed. The awful stillness of the forest was only broken 
Ly the song of the birds and the snarl of wild beasts 

ISTorth of the "Wabash the character of the country 
changed. Here also, the land was covered with gigantic 
trees, but was almost free from undergrowth, and the 
tranches were so high from the ground, that it was an easy 



334 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

n latter for horsemen to ride beneath them. These timber 
lands were called "oak openings," although many walnut 
and other trees grew among the oaks. Many of the native 
trees of Indiana were from ninety to one hundred and 
tAventy feet high, and some of them were five feet in diam- 
eter. There are more than one hundred varieties of trees 
native to the State, a large per cent, of which were valuable 
a? timber. No State in Central United States has a greater 
variety, or more valuable trees than Indiana- 

In portions of the western and northwestern part of the 
State, stretch miles and miles of prairie lands, which, when 
first known, were covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, 
dotted with wild flowers of every hue. Some of these 
prairies were very low, wet marsh lands, unfit for cultiva- 
tion until after the country was well drained. The north- 
ern part of the State is diversified by many beautiful Kttle 
lakes, some of them quite large enough for sailing small 
steam yachts, and near these summer hotels have been built, 
and there many people from the cities and towns spend the 
hot months- 

The soil in northern Indiana is very sandy. On the 
northeast shore of Lake Michigan the winds have piled up 
the sand in great ridges or mounds, called "sand dunes," 
some of them 150 feet high. The soil of the greater part 
of Indiana is rich and productive, about ninety per cent, 
being susceptible of cultivation — that is, ninety out of every 
one hundred acres can be cultivated with the plow. A 
large portion of the land in Indiana was at one time so wet 
and swampy, that it was considered of little value until well 
drained. 

Before the country was settled, the forests and prairies 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 335 

were full of birds, many A^arieties of which are not now 
found in the State. Among these was the bald-headed 
eagle, which, like the game of the forests, has long since dis- 
appeared. When the territory was first known, buffaloes 
were to be seen in countless numbers on the prairies of 
western Indiana. Elk and deer were common, as also were 
bears, wolves, panthers, beaver, otter, wild-cat, porcupines 
and many other animals which have disappeared with the 
forests and the red men. 

The lakes and streams were full of fish, and wild ducks, 
turkeys and other f eiathered game were found in great num- 
bers on the prairies and marshes. A great variety of plants 
and ferns are native to Indiana; over a thouisand species 
have been discovered, and more than fifty native grasses. 

There are other interesting facts concerning Indiana, 
which men have discovered by going beneath the surface 
of the ground and searching out the secrets hidden there. 
In southwestern Indiana vast beds of coal are found under- 
lying the surface of the ground; in the southeastern part of 
the State valuable building stone is found imbedded in the 
earth, Avhile petroleum, and natural gas are secreted hun- 
dreds of feet below the surface, in certain parts of the State. 
The hills of southern Indiana are full of wonderful caves, 
containing strange formations and beautiful scenery. One 
of these caves — the Wyandotte, in Crawford County, rivals 
in beauty, if not in extent, the famous Mammoth Cave of 
Kentucky. Many mineral springs and artesian wells are 
also found in the southern part of the State. 

Xature has generously provided Indiana with the sources 
of great wealth. It only requires industry and persever- 
ance on the part of her people to develop the great natural 



336 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

resources wliich liave been stored up for their use. The 
first natural product of Indiana, or the first product which 
brought money to the settlers, was the furs and skins of ani- 
mals. Tliis resource lias long been exhausted. The gi- 
gantic growth of timber, which would now be worth more 
than the price of the land on which it grew, was another 
natural resource. Millions of dollars' Avortli of this valu- 
able timber was cut down and burned, to clear the land for 
cultivation. Coal is one of the most valuable of the natural 
products/ of Indiana, vast fields of which underlie the west- 
ern and southwestern portions of the State, ranging from 
ten to sixty miles in width. Coal mines are being operated 
in seventeen different counties, which give employment to 
thousands of men and yield more than four millions of tons 
of coal every year. 

i\nother natural resource and a great wealth producing 
product, is the immense quantity of building stone which is 
found in several counties in the southeastern part of the 
State. Xo State in the Union produces better stone for 
building purposes than Indiana, and it is shipped to all parts 
of the United States. Some of the Government buildings 
and finest business blocks in the country are constructed of 
stone taken from Indiana stone quarries. 

Valuable deposits of fine clay is another natural resource 
of which Indiana can boast. This product is principally 
found in the northwestern coumties. From this material 
brick, tile and different kinds of ware are made. 

The last great secret which nature has yielded to' man's 
investigation, is the wonderful product of natural gas, 
which has been discovered in more than twenty counties in 
Indiana. Its discovery has aided in the development of 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 337 

many industries, and greatly advanced tlie commerce of tlie 
State. 

Petroleum is anothefr natural product of Indiana. The 
main field of this product is nortlieast of the center of the 
State, although it is found in smaller quantities in other 
parts of the State. Iron has been found in small quan- 
tities, but it is of inferior quality, and can scarcely be classed 
among its paying productions. Gold has also been found 
in siQall quantities in portions of southern Indiana. 

Aside from the natural resources of Indiana, there are 
many manufactured products which may be counted among 
the resources of the State. Steamboat and railroad coaches 
are built along the Ohio River, at Jefferson ville and New 
Albany; cars, wagons, carriages and other vehicles, bicycles, 
farming implements of iron and wood, various kinds of ma- 
chinery, glassware, plate glass, tin-plate, zinc, tile, brick, 
encaustic tile, pottery, terra cotta, stone-ware, paper, cotton 
and woolen cloth and countless other articles are manufac- 
tured in Indiana. 

But chief among the industries of the State is agriculture, 
or farming. Indiana is a State of small farms and cozy 
homes. The majority of the farmers own their own farms 
and cultivate them themselves. The principal produce 
raised is corn, wheat, grass, or hay, vegetables, fruit, and 
live stock. 

Farming has become a great science, and the most suc- 
cessful farmers are those who best understand the soil they 
cultivate and the use to which it is best adapted. 



22 



338 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

CHAPTER XXXYII. 

Biographical Sketches of Indiana Governors, 

Williaim Henry Harrison, thoi nrst Governor of the In- 
diana Territory, was born in Virginia, Febrnary 9th, 1773. 
His fatlier was a soldier in tlie Hevolntionary War, 'and 
fougiit under botli General St. Clair and General AVayne. 
On resignation of Wintlirop Sargant, in 1796, Willi am 
Henry Harrison was appointed Secretary of tlie Xorthw^est- 
ern Territory, to serve under liis father's old commander, 
General St. Clair, wdio was Governor of tlie Territory. In 
1799, lie was elected the first delegate to the United States 
Congress from the Xo-rthwestern Territory; and on May 
13th, 1800, at the age of 27 years, he was appointed Gov- 
ernor of Indiana Territory, which office he continued to fill 
until 1812, when he resigned to accept the appointment of 
Erigadier-General of the Army of the Xorthwestern Fron- 
tier. At the close of the war with Great Britain in 1811, 
ho resigned his commission and retired to his farm at Xorth 
Bend, near Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1816, he w^as elected a 
Representative to the Congress of the United States from 
the State of Ohio, and served in this position for three years. 
1 01 two years he served Ohio as a Senator in the State Leg- 
islature, after wdiich he was elected United States Senator 
from Ohio. In 1840, General Harrison was elected Presi- 
dent of the United States, and was inaugurated March 4th, 
1 841 ; but his career as highest officer in the nation was in- 
deed brief; one month from the day he became President, 
h^ died, and was buried at his old home at North Bend, 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 339 

Obio. The years during which General Harrison served as 
Territorial Governor were eventful ones in the history of 
Indiana. It was his duty to preserve peace with the In- 
dians, and to secure as much land from them as possible. 
During the twelve years he served as Governor, he suc- 
ceeded in extinguishing the Indian titles to more than 
29,000,000 acres of land. It was also his task to quell the 
outbreaks of the savages in Indiana Territory and it was 
through his efforts and good generalship that the schemes 
of Tecumseh and the Prophet were defeated and the power 
of the Indians broken. Governor Harrison was one of the 
most influential men in early Indiana, and was greatly loved 
and honored by her people. 

John Gibson, Acting Governor of Indiana Territory, was 
born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 23d, 1740. When 
but eighteen years old he took part in a British expedition 
against the French, at Fort Du Qucsne, (afterward called 
Fort Pitt) where the city of Pittsburg is now situated. 
After its capture, he settled at the foii and began to trade 
w'th the Indians. At one time, he with other white men, 
was captured by the savages, and condemned to be burned 
at the stake, but his life was saved by an old squaw^ who 
had lost a son in battle, and adopted the young trader to 
take liis place in her family. He lived among the Indians 
for several years, learned their language and became famil- 
iar with their manners and customs. He was dissatisfied 
with life among the savages, however, and making his es- 
cape, returned to Fort Pitt, and resumed his former occupa- 
tion of trader. When the war of the Pevolution began, 
Colonel Gibson raised a regiment, and was afterward placed 
in command of the troops on the western frontier, and when 



340 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

the war ended, lie again returned to Pittsburg and con- 
tinued to follow his old occujjation of trading with the In- 
dians. General Gibson was a member of the Constitutional 
Convention of the State of Pennsylvania, and was appointed 
judge of the court of his county, and was General of the 
Pennsylvania militia. In 1800, he was appointed Secre- 
tary of the Territory of Indiana, and before the arrival of 
Governor Harrison at Yincennes, he began to organize the 
Territorial government. While Governor Harrison was 
away, commanding the Northwestern troops in an expedi- 
tion against the Indians, General Gibson became Acting 
Governor of Indiana Territory, performing all the duties of 
that office, as well as those of Territorial Secretary. He 
served in this double capacity for about one year. When 
Indiana became a State, General Gibson remained for a 
time at Yincennes; later he removed to Pennsylvania, and 
died near Pittsburg, April 10th, 1822, at the age of 82 
years. General Gibson was a well educated, capable man; 
he discharged his official duties in a manner which won the 
confirlence and esteem of those who knew him, and he en- 
joyed the merited friendship and good-will of those about 
him. 

Thomas Posey was Indiana's last Tenitorial Governor. 
He, like Governor Harrison, was a native of Yirginia, and 
was born July 9th, 1750, on a farm on the banks of the 
Potomac River. In 1774, he joined an expedition against 
the Indians, and won distinction by his coolness and brav- 
ery. Like General Gibson, he was a Revolutionary sol- 
dier^ and raised a company of men and fought for American 
Independence, receiving the title of Major, then that of 
General; continuing his military career, he served under 



YOUNG PE0PLE*S HISTORt OF INDIANA. 341 

General Anthony Wayne, in tlie ISTortliwestern Army, and 
was Captain of a Louisiana company, in ^the war of 1812. 
Having taken up his residence in Louisiana, he was elected 
to the Se/nate of that State. On March 3d, 1813, President 
ivladison appointed him Governor of Indiana Territory, to 
succeed Acting Governor Gibson. He entered upon his 
duties as Governor at the age of 63 years. Soon afterward 
the Territorial Capital was removed to Corydon. Governor 
Posey, whose health was delicate, finding the climate did 
not agree with him, removed to Jeffersooiville, where he 
continued to make his home. During his official term, the 
Constitutional Convention, which made Indiana a State, waa 
held at Corydon, and by reason of this change in the gov- 
ernment, the office of Territorial Governor became void. 
Governor Posey was a candidate for Governor of the State 
of Indiana, but was defeated by Jonathan Jennings. After- 
ward, he was appointed Indian agent for the Illinois Terri- 
tory, and died at Shawneetown, Illinois, March 19th, 1818. 
Governor Posey was an amiable Christian gentleman, and 
was active in spreading the truths of the Bible, and was fore- 
most in all good works. He was tall and commanding in 
person, with a handsome face, and graceful easy manners. 

Jonathan Jennings. — After the adoption of the State 
Constitution of 181 G, an election was held for the purpose 
of choosing a Governor for the new State. The choice fell 
upon Jonathan Jennings, and he became the first Governor 
of the State of Indiana. Jonathan Jennings was born in 
ISTew Jersey, in the year 1784. After completing his edu- 
cation, while still a very young man, he removed to Jeffer- 
sonville, Indiana, where he completed the study of law, 
afterward serving as clerk of the Territorial Legislature. 



342 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

He was strcrigly opposed to tlie institution of slavery, wliich 
was then attracting iniicli attention in Indiana Territory, 
and in the race for Territorial Delegate to Congress, in 
1800, he defeated Thomas Randolph, who favored it. Tie 
v/as re-elected Delegate to Congress in 1811, and again in 
IS 13. The bill enabling Indiana to become a State, was 
reported to Congress by ^Ir. Jennings, and when the Con 
stitiitional Convention was held in 1816, h-a w^as elected a 
delegate and was chosen president of the convention. Mr. 
•Tennino^s was but 32 vears old when he became the first 
Governor of Indiana. During his administration the en- 
tire machinery of State was put in motion, and many serious 
problems were met and disposed of. In 1818, President 
^Monroe appointed Governor Jennings a commissioner to a 
treaty with the Indians, at St. Mary's, Ohio, and he re- 
quested Christopher Harrison, Lieutenant-Governor of In- 
diana, to come to Corydon, toi perform the duties of Gov- 
ernor during his absence. Mr. Harrison went to Corydon 
and took posse,ssion of the Goveirnor's office, and over this a 
strange contest arose. The Constitution of Indiana pro- 
hibits the Governor from holding any office under the 
United States government, and Lieutenant-Governor Har- 
rison maintained that by accepting the appointment of com- 
missioner, Governor Jennings had forfeited his office of 
Governor, and when Mr. Jennings returned he refused to 
vacf.te the office, claiming that he, not Mr. Jennings, was 
Governor of Indiana. Mr. Jennings did not agree with 
him, however, and demanded his office; whereupon Mr. 
Harrison took the seal of the State and opened another 
office. It was a peculiar situation, and the officers of the 
State were puzzled to know which of the two men claiming 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 343 

to be Governor, was entitled to tlieir recognition. When 
the Legislature met in December, 1818, committees frorri 
l)->tli branches of that body were appointed to wait upon 
Lieutenant-Governor LTarrison to inform him that the Gen- 
eral Assembly was in session and ready to receive any cotii- 
raunication he was pleased to make. By this act, the au- 
thority of the Lieutenant-Governor was recognized; but a 
committee was afterward appointed to investigate tho 
trouble between the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, 
which investigation finally ended in the recognition of Gov- 
ernor Jennings. LTpon this Lieutenant-Governor Harrison 
resigned his oflace, and in 1819, was a candidate for Gov- 
emoi against Mr. Jennings. The election resulted in the re-- 
election of Governor Jennings. The folloAving year he was 
appointed a commissioner to select a permanent location for 
a State Capital. In 1822, Governor Jennings was elect-id 
a "Representative to the United States Congress, and re- 
signed his office of Governor to accept this position and the 
unexpired term of three months was filled by Ratliff Boone, 
Lieutenant-Governor. For eight consecutive years, Mr. 
Jennings represented his district in Congress. In 1830 he 
was again a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by 
General John Carr. Governor Jennings left "Washington 
and retired to his home near Charleston, Indiana, afterward 
serving under President Jacksion as a commissioner to treat 
v^ith the Indians for lands in northern Indiana and southern 
^lichigan; in this capacity he exercised great influence with 
the northern tribes. On July 26th, 1834, Governor Jen- 
nings died at his home, and was buried at Charleston. lie 
was a man of culture and refinement; was of medium 
height, heavy-set, with fair complexion, blue eyes and light 



344 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 

hair. His manner was gentle and kind and lie was greatly 
loved and respected by tlioee who knew liim. 

Eatliff Boone was second Governor of Indiana, by resig- 
nation of Governor Jennings. Writers disagree as to liis 
birthplace, some claiming that !North Carolina is the State 
of his birth, others that he was bom in Georgia: but all 
agiee that he first saw the light in 1781. A gunsmith by 
trade, he came to Indiana in 1809, and was the first troas^ 
urer of Warrick County. In 1816 he was elected a mem- 
ber of the first General Assembly of Indiana and in 1818 
was elected State Senator. In 1819, he was elected Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, and when Governor Jennings resigned his 
ofilce to accept the position of Representative to the United 
States Congress he became Acting Governor of Indiana, 
and filled the unexpired term. In 1822 he was elected 
Governor, but resigned the ofiice to become a candidate for 
Representative to Congress. He was elected to this posi- 
tion and served continuously until 1839. After leaving 
Congress he removed to Missouri, and became identified 
with the public affairs of that State. He died in Missouri, 
K'ovember 20th, 1844. He was forty years old when he 
became Acting Governor of Indiana, and died at the age of 
sixty-three years. He was of medium height, straight and 
spare in person, with a low receding forehead. He was a 
couirageous, self-reliant main, and in chairacter suited to the 
life of the pioneer. 

William Hendricks, Indiana's third Governor, was a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania, and was born at Ligonier, in 1783. 
He came to Madison, Indiana, in 1814, and entered into the 
practice of law; that same year he was elected a mem- 
ber of the Territorial Legislature (for Indiana was still a 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 345 

territory), and was chosen Speaker of the Honise of Repre- 
sentatives. When the Constitutional Convention was held 
in 1816, Mr. Hendricks was made Secretary, and when In- 
diana became a State, he was elected a Representative to 
thr United States Congress, and was twice re-elected to this 
honorable position. In 1822, when 39 years of age, he was 
unanimously elected Governor of the State of Indiana. Be- 
fore his terai of office expired, however, the Legislature 
elected him a United States Senator. He resigned his office 
of Governor to accept the honor bestowed upon him by the 
General Assembly of his State. Twice he was re-electod, 
and in 1839, retired to private life, having served the State 
more than twenty years. In addition to this public service, 
Mr. Hendricks edited the second newspaper in the State. 
It was called "The Eagle," and was published at Madison. 
William Wesley Woollen, in his Biographical and Histor- 
ical Sketches of Early Indiana, says: "William Hendricks 
had as much to do with laying the foundation of this great 
State and commencing its superstructure as any other man, 
excepting Jonathan Jennings, only, and yet how few there 
are who know he ever lived.'' This author further say=!: 
"Afen who found empires should not be forgotten. They 
plant the tree of civil liberty, and water its roots, while 
those who come after them but trim its branches and pre- 
serve its symmetry. If tliey plant carelessly and in poor 
soil the tree will have but sickly growth. That the men 
who planted Indiana in the wilderness planted wisely and 
well, is evidenced by its wonderful growth." Eor many 
years Governor Hendricks was the most popular man in 
Indiana. He was tall, and well formed, with blue eyes, 
auburn hair and fair complexion. His manner was well 



346 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

bred and dignified. He died at Madison, in May, 1850, at 
the age of 50 years, and was buried in Ms family vault at 
Madison. 

frames Brown Ivay, fourth Governor of Indiana, was 
born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, February 19th, 1794, 
and in 1818 removed toi Brookville, Indiana, and began the 
practice of law. Here he soon became influential among 
the leading men of the community. In 1822 he was elected 
to the State Senate, serving as President of the Senate until 
the resignation of Go^/ernor Hendricks in 1825, when he 
became Acting Governor of Indiana At the expiration oi 
his term of- office he was elected Governor, at the age of 31 
years. The years during which he served as Governor were 
somewhat uneventful in the history of the State. The peo- 
ple were busy in developing their farms and settling the 
country' . The machinery of State had been put in motion, 
and it was a period of quiet growth and steady advance- 
ment. Governor Ray, together with General Cairr and 
General Tipton, was appointed a commissioner to secure a 
treaty with the Pottawattomie Indians, and succeeded in se- 
curing from them a large amount of land in the northern 
part of the State. Through the influence of Goveirnor Pay, 
the Pottaw^attomies donated a large tract of land for the 
purpose of building the Michigan road. The acceptance of 
this appointment under the United States government 
caused Governor Pay similar trouble to that which came so 
near losing Governor Jennings his official position, but was 
averted in much the same manner. It was during this 
period that the murder of the Indians by white men, near 
Pendleton took place. It was a dream of Governor Ray, in 
later years, to concentrate the railroads of the country at 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 347 

Indianapolis, and make a grand railroad center of tlie Cap- 
it;:] Citj. There was so little about the city in the woods to 
encourage such a scheme, that men looked upon it as a 
"crazy whim/' and the Governor was couvsidered a little 
wrong in his mind; but the "whim" of Governor Ray bps 
been more than realized, and Indianapolis has become the 
greatest inland railroad center in the country. Governor 
Ray was a candidate for Congress in 1837, but was de- 
feated. At one time he was a very popular and influential 
man in Indiana. He was a man of marked eccentricities 
which seemed to increase with his years. In 1845, Gov- 
ernor Ray was stricken with cholera and died at the age of 
51 years. His resting place is Spring Grove Cemeteiy, 
near Cincinnati. He was a remarkably fine looking man, 
tall and straight, with a handsomie, intellectual face; he wore 
his liair long and tied in a "queue," after the fashion of 
the early days. 

ISToah ^oble, like both Indiana's Territorial Governors, 
was a Virginian, and was born January 15th, 1794. His 
childhood was spent in Kentucky, his parents having emi- 
grated to that State when he was a small chlid. Like Gov- 
ernor Ray, he removed to Brookville, Indiana, which was 
at one time the most important town in the State. Here he 
was twice elected sheriff of Franklin County, and in 1824 
was chosen a Representative to the State Legislature, after 
which he was appointed receiver of the public moneys for 
the land office in Indianapolis, and served for three years. 
In 1830 he was appointed a commissioner to assist in locat- 
ing and laying out the Michigan road. In 1831, at the age 
of thirty-seven years, he was elected Governor of In liana 
and was re-elected to the same honorable position in 1834. 



348 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

During Ins term of office the internal improvement system 
was in operation; he was one of its strongest advocates, and 
after his second term of office expired, he was appointed one 
of the Board of Commissioners for Internal Improvements. 
x\lthough Governor jSToble was a very popular man in In- 
diana, his promotion of this great system of internal im- 
provememts, in a measure destroyed his influence, for when 
the scheme failed, his popularity declined, and although he 
was ambitious to become a United States Senator for which 
he was a candidate, he never realized his hopes, but was de- 
feated by Oliver H. Smith in 1836. In 1830. he was again 
a candidate, but was again defeated — this time by Albei-t S. 
White. Governor Noble died at his home near Indianap- 
olis, February 8th, 1844, at tlie age of fifty years, and was 
buried in Greenlawn Cemetery; afterward, his remains and 
those of his wife were removed to Crown Ilill Cemetery. 
The news of his death was received with general expressions 
of regret; a public meeting was held and resolutions on his 
death were prepared and published. Funeral services were 
held in the M. E. Church and were conducted by Rev. L. 
W. Berry, assisted by Rev. Dr. Gurley and Rev. Henry 
"Ward Beecher. Governor Noble possessed many pleasing 
qualities and had a large circle of warm persooial friends. 
lie was tall and slender of form, and of delicate constitu- 
tion. His countenance was mild, his nature sympathetic, 
his disposition cheerful. He was a popular Governor, and 
a great favorite in society. Governor Noble's father was a 
slave owner, and some of the slaves had been sold out of the 
family when he was a boy. After he came to Indianapolis, 
he bought back these old servants, brought them to Indiana 
and took care of them as long as he lived, and provided for 
them in his will. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 349 

David Wallace was the sixth Governor of Indiana. He 
was born in Miffin County, Pennsylvania, April 24th, 1799. 
"When but a small boy, his father removed to Ohio, where 
he lived until he reached young manhood. In 1821, he 
graduated from "West Point, and entered the army at Lieu- 
tenant of Artillery, but soon resigned his commission and 
joined his father at Brookville, Indiana; here he studied 
law and began the practice of his profession. In 1831, he. 
was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana, and was re- 
elected in 1834. In 183Y, at the age of thirty-eight, he 
was elected Governor of Indiana. Governor Wallace was 
a strong' advocate of the internal improvement system and 
it was during his term of office that the system failed. After 
serving the State as Governor for three years, he went back 
to the practice of law. In 1841, he was elected a member 
of the CJnited States House of Eepresentatives. He was 
again a candidate for Congress in 1843, but this time was 
defeated, and again returned to the practice of his profes- 
sion In 1850 he was chosen a delegate to the second In- 
diana Constitutional Convention. In 1856 Governor Wal- 
lace was elected judge of the court, which office he con- 
tinued to fill until his death, which occurred September 4th, 
1859, when at the age of sixty years. Governor Wallace 
was a cultured, well-bred gentleman; he was a lover of 
books, an excellent reader, and so good a speaker that he 
won the reputation of an orator. In his younger days, he 
was remarkable for the symmetry and beauty of his person. 
Hio hair and eyes were dark, his countenance expressive, his 
manner courteous and kind. Governor Wallace was the 
first Indiana Governor to issue a proclamation appointing 
Thanksgiving Day, a custom now so universal. 



350 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Samuel Bigger was born in AYarren County, Ohio, Mar.c!i 
20tli, 1802, and became tlie seventh Governor of Indiana, 
in 1 840, at the age of thirtv-eight years. His father was a 
pioneer of Ohio, and for years was a member of the General 
Assembly of that State. The life of the pioneer was not 
suited to Samuel, who was of delicate constitution, and fond 
of books and of study. Unfit for the hard work on the 
farm^ he entered college and graduated with honors, aftei* 
w^hich he studied law and began its practice in Liberty, In- 
diana, in 1820, but soon removed to Rushville. In 1834 
he was elected a member of the Indiana House of Repre- 
sentatives, and the following year was ra-elected, after 
which he became a judge of the court. In 1840, he was 
elected Governor of Indiana. Three years later he was a 
candidate for re-election, but was defeated by James AVhit- 
comb. Governor Bigger entered upon the duties of his 
office wdien Indiana was almost in a state' of bankruptcy, 
caused by the failure of the system of internal improve- 
ments. Soon after his term of office expired, he removed 
to Fort Wayne, and resumed the practice of his profession. 
He died in 1845, when forty-three years old, and was buried 
at Fort Wayne. Governor Bigger was over six feet tall, 
and well proportioned; his eyes were blue, his hair and 
complexion dark, his countenance expressive, Idnd and gen- 
tle. He was fond of music, had a fine voice, and \vas a 
skillful performer on the violin. He was a conscientious 
officer and an honorable man. Of him, one who knew him 
all his life lias said: ^^Ile was a great man in goodness, 
great in heart and great in soul." 

James AVhitcomb. — Vermont was the birthplace of In- 
diana's eighth Governor, James AVhitcomb, and he first 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 351 

opened his eyes December 1st, 1795. When he was a little 
child, his father emigrated to Ohio and settled near Cin- 
cinnati. Like his predecessor, Governor Bigger, James 
Wiiitcomb cared more for his books than he did for the 
work of the faivm; and like the fathers of many other boys 
before and since that day, Mr. AVhitcomb feared his son 
would amount to but little among the bnsy pioneer people. 
Ilowever, by hard study, and by teaching school during his 
vacation to earn money, he was able to procure a col'ege 
education, after which he began the study of law, and beip;au 
to practice his profession in Kentucky. In 182-1, he re- 
moved to Eloomington, Indiana, and continued his prac- 
tice; soon, Governor Ivay appointed him Prosecuting Attor- 
ney of his court circuit. In 1830 he was elected State Sen- 
ator^ and three years later he was re-elected. In 183 G, he 
wa,"* appointed commissioner of the General Land Office, at 
AVashington, a position he continued to fill until 1841, when 
he returned to Indiana and opened a law office in Terre 
TTaute. In 1843, at the age of forty-eight years, he was 
elected Governor of Indiana, and served two terms as Chief 
Executive of the State. During the six years he served as 
Governor of Indiana, Governor Whitcomb did much to re- 
store the State's credit, which had been greatly impaired by 
the failure of the internal improvement system. It was 
largely through his efforts that a sentiment was created 
among the people in favor of establishing benevolent and 
reformatory institutions, and he urged the importance of 
establishing a public school system, and a school fund. 
"While he was Governor the war against Mexico was de- 
clared, and militarv or^ranizations were formed under his 
directions to assist the government in this war. Governor 



352 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

Wliitcoinb was elected a United States Senator in 1849, but 
was not permitted to serve out bis term of office. He died 
in New York, October 4tb, 1852, at tbe age of ^:fty-seveu 
years. His remains were brougbt to Indianapolis, and were 
buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, and a monument to bis 
memor}^ was erected by tbe State, In form. Governor 
WLitcomb was tall, and compactly built. His complexion 
and eyes were dark, bis countenance expressive, b:^ manner 
bind; bis dark bair fell in ringlets to bis sboulders anc be 
was always well dressed. He was co'urteou3, talented and 
b on est, and numbers one among Indiana's great mi.n. 

Paris C. Dunning was born near Greensboro, Noirtb Caro- 
lina, !Marcb 15tb, 1806. He received bis education at an 
academy in Greensboro. In 1823 be removed witb big 
family to Bloomington, Indiana, wbere be studied law wiib 
Governor Wbitcomb. After being admitted to tbe bar be 
began tbe practice of bis profession at Bloomington. In 
1833 be was elected a Eepresentative to tbe State Legisla- 
ture and was tbree times re-elected. In 1836 be was elected 
State Senator and continued to fill tbat office until 1840. 
In 1844 be was cbosen Presidential Elector, and in 1846 
was elected Lieutenant-Governor and wben Governor Wbit- 
comb resigned to accept tbe office of United States Senator, 
be became Acting Governor of Indiana. In 1850 be re- 
tired to tlie practice of bis profession. In 1861 be was 
ao-ain elected to tbe State Senate and in 1863 was cbosen 
President of tbat body. 

Josepb A. Wrigbt. — Pennsylvania is tbe native State of 
Indiana's tentb Governor, Josepb A. AYrigbt, and April 
iTtli, 1810, was bis birtbday. His parents emigrated to 
Indiana wben be was a boy, and settled at Bloomington. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 353 

They were poor people and unable to give their son an edu- 
cation sucli as he desired, but Joseph having the 'Svill" 
foand the "way," and is an example of what a boy may do 
if he has determination, perseverance and industr;)^ By 
performing the work of janitor at the State University — by 
making the fires, ringing the bell, and performing other 
work about the building — by working in a brick-yard and 
selling nuts he had gathered in the woods during vacation, 
the future Governor of Indiana earned money enough to 
buy his books and clothing and to pay his way in college 
for two years. When but twenty years of age he passed his 
examinations and received license to practice law, after 
which he removed to Rockville and opened an office. At 
the age of twenty-three he was elected a member of the 
State Legislature. In 1840 he became a member of the 
State Senate, and three years later was elected a Representa- 
tive to the United States House of Representatives. In 
1845 he was a candidate for re-election, but v/as defeated by 
Edward W. McCraughey. In 1849, at the age of thirty- 
nine, he was elected Governor of Indiana and was re-elected 
in 1852. In 1857, Governor Wright was appointed United 
States Minister to Prussia, where he remained two years. 
In 1862, Governor Morton appointed him to fill a vacancy 
in the United States Senate. In 1863, President Lincoln 
appointed him a commissioner to the Hamburg Exposition. 
In 1865, he was again appointed Minister to Prussia. He 
died at Berlin, March 11th, 1867, and his remains were 
brought to iN'ew York and were buried there. AVhile Jo- 
seph A. Wright was CJoverncr of Indiana the second Con- 
stitutional Convention was held, and during his term of 
office many important events in the history of the State took 
23 



354 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

place. Duiing this period, tlie State Agricultural Society 
was formed, and altliougli not a farmer, Governor AVriglit 
was deeply interested in farming and when the State Board 
of Agriculture Avas formed, he was made its president, and 
served in this capacity for three years. Governor Wright 
was a tall, spare man, with a large head and high forehead; 
his eyes were blue, his complexion and hair were light, and 
his features large and prominent. He was one of the most 
influential men in the State, and was honorable, both in 
public and private life. 

Ashbel P. Willard became the eleventh Governor of In- 
diana when but thirty-six years old. Ha was born in 
Oneida Coimty, Xew York, October 31st, 1820. After 
leaving college he began the study of law, and emigrated to 
Michigan in 1812; he remained there a short time, then 
made a trip to Texas, traveling the distance on horse-back. 
On his return he stopped in Kentucky, where he tauight 
school, and soon after entered politics. He opened a law 
office in New Albany and so won the confidence of the peo- 
ple that in 1850, he was elected a member of the House of 
Representatives, where he soon became a leader. In 1852, 
he was elected lieu tenant-Governor, and in 1856 he was 
elected Governor of Indiana, defeating Oliver P. Morton. 
Governor Willard was a strong partisan, and not only won 
friends but also made many political enemies by his policy 
while in office. While serving as Governor his health be- 
came impaired and leaving his official duties in the hands of 
the Lieutenant-Governor, he went to Minnesota hoping to 
regain his strength, but his life was near its close, and he 
died on October 4th, I860, at the age of forty years. He 
was the first Indiana Governor to die in office. His remains 



YOUNG PEOPLES HISTORY OF INDIANA. 355 

were brought to Indianapolis, where they lay in state for 
three days and were viewed by thousands of people. Gov- 
ernor AVillard had a pleasing personality. Ilis eyes were 
Line, his hair aubnrn, his complexion fair. His voice was 
fine, and as an orator he was eloquent and persuasive. His 
nature was kind and geneix)us, and his ability was recog- 
^nized by both his friends and his enemies. 

Abram Hammond. — On the death of Governor Willard, 
Abrani Hammond became the twelfth Governor of Indiana. 
He was forty-six years old, and was born in Ver- 
mont, March 21st, 1811. He Avas the first Lieutenaait- 
Governor to become Governor on accouint of death. 
When but six years old, Abram Hammond removed 
with his parents to Brookville, Indiana. Like many 
of his predecessors, he chose law as his profesision, and 
began its practice at Greenfield in 1835. He re- 
mained there live years and then removed to Columbus, 
v>diere he became prosecuting attorney of his circuit. In 
184-C), he removed to India,napolis, but only remained one 
year; he then removed to Cincinnati, but returned to In- 
dianapolis in 1849, and was made judge of the court. Three 
years later he went to California and opened a law office, 
but in 1855 again returned to Indiana and settled at Terre 
Haute. The following year he was elected Lieutenant- 
Governor. x\fter the death of Governor Willard he served 
the remaining three months of his term as Governor. Gov- 
ernor Hammond was a very able man. In person he was of 
■fine appearance. He was of medium height and symmet- 
rically formed. His eyes, hair a,nd complexion were dark, 
his expression kind and gentle, his manner frank, dignified 



856 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and self-possessed. For several years Governor Hammond 
was a sufferer from rheumatism and was compelled to walk 
by the aid of crutches. Other diseases attacked him and ho 
went to Denver, Colorado, to try to regain his lost health. 
He died in Denver, August 27th, 1874. His remains were 
brought to Indianapolis, where they were received with 
honor, and were buried at Crown Hill Cemetery. 

Henry S. Lane.— Kentucky gave to Indiana her thir- 
teenth Governor, Henry S. Lane; he served her but 
briefl}', however, as Chief Executive, and resigned his 
ofhce'^ two days after his inauguration, to accept the 
office of Hnited States Senator, to which the Gen- 
eral Assembly of Indiana elected him. Henry S. 
Lane was born in Montgomery, Kentucky, Febru- 
ary nth, ISll. After completing his education, he 
studied law, and began its practice at Crawfordsville, In- 
diana, in 1835. He soon became very popular with the 
people of Montgomery County, and in 1837, he was elected 
a Representative to the State Legislature. In 1840, he was 
elected to fill a vacancy in Congress, and the following year 
was re-elected. AYhen war was declared against Mexico, 
Mr. Lane was active in the support of the United States 
government, and not only made speeches in favor of annex- 
ing Teuxas, but raised a company of volunteers, was chosen 
Major of a regiment, and afterward became Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and served until his regiment was mustered out of 
service. He then returned to Indiana and in 1849 was a 
candidate for Congress, but Avas defeated by Joseph E. Mc- 
Donald. In 18G0, Colonel Lane was elected Governor of 
Indiana, and Oliver P. Morton was elected Lieutenant- 
Governor. On January 14tli, 1861, they were inaug- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 357 

nrated, and two days later Governor Lane resigned to accept 
the position of United States Senator. After liis term of 
office in the Senate liad expired, lie returned to his home in 
Crawfordsville, and did not again enter public life. On 
June tOth, 1881, after a brief illness, he died and was 
buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, near Crawfordsville. The 
news of his death was received with sorrow and regret by 
the people all over the State. By order of Governor Porter, 
all the State offices were draped in mourning for thirty days, 
and the officers of State attended the funeral in a body. 
Many noted persons as well as a large concourse of neigh- 
bors and friends were present. Governor Ltine was tall and 
slender of form, somewhat stooped about the shoulders. 
The expression of his thin face was kind and gentle. He 
wore a long beard, which during the last years of his life 
was snow-white. He was a talented and cultured gentle- 
man, greatly loved in life and mourned in death. He was 
forty-nine years old when he became Governor of Indiana, 
and sixty when he died. 

Oliver P. Morton. — So much has been said of Oliver P. 
Morton in the war chapter of this book, that this sketch of 
his life will necessarily be brief. Everywhere he was 
known as Indiana's great War Governor, and he deserved 
the title, as well as the praise which a grateful people have 
lavished" upon him. He was the first Indiana Governor 
born on ''Hoosier" soil, and in character, was as rugged as 
were his early surroundings. His birthplace was Sauls- 
bury, Wayne County, and he was born August 4th, 1823. 
When a boy, he attended school at Centervillc. Indiana, but 
the family were poor and he was ol)liged to quit school at 
the age of fifteen years, after which he learned the hatter's 



358 YOUNG PEOFLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

trade. In 1843, lie entered Miami University, where ke 
remained for two years. . He then began the study of law, 
and afterward the practice, in Centerville. In 1852 he was 
elected judge of his circuit, and later he attended law school 
in Cincinnati. In 1853 he returned to his practice at Cen- 
terville. In 1856 he was a candidate for Governor, but 
was defeated by Ashbel P. AVillard. In 1860, he was 
elected Lieutenant-Governor; two days after his inaugiu-a- 
tion, on resignation of Governor Lane, he became GovernO!r 
of Indiana. He was then thirty-seven years old. Three 
months later the country was involved in the war for the 
Union, but as Governor Morton's part in guiding the "ship 
of State" through this great conflict has been related else- 
where, it will be omitted here. In 18G1, he was re-elected 
Governor, defeating Hon. Joseph E. McDonald. The fol- 
lowing year his health became greatly impaired and he left 
the affairs of State in the hands of Lieutenant-Governor 
Eaker, and went abroad. Eeturning after a few months, 
he again resumed his duties. In 1867, he was elected 
United States Senator, and was re-elected in 1873. Gov- 
ernor ]\[orton was for several years a victim of partial 
paralysis, and while in the West, on official buisiness for the 
government, he was again stricken with this dread disease, 
from Avhich he never recovered. He died at his home in 
Indianapolis, November 1st, 1877, surrounded by his fam- 
ily and friends. The death of Governor Morton caused 
widespread grief, not only in his own State but all over the 
country. Indianapolis was a city of mourning. For nearly 
two days his remains lay in state in the Court House, and 
every mark of respect was shown to the memory of the dead 
statesman. The United States Senate adopted resolutions 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 359 

on his death, and many noted men were in attendance at his 
funeral, which took place at lio'berts Park Church, and his 
remains were interred at Crown Hill Cemetery. Governor 
l^forton was fifty-four years old at the time of his death. 

Conrad Baker was born in franklin County, Pennsyl- 
vania, February 12th, 1817, and was educated at a college 
in Gettysburg. After completing his college course he 
studied law, was 'admitted to the bar and entered upon the 
practice of his profession at Gettysburg in 1839. Two 
years later he emigrated west and settled at Evans^dlle, In- 
diana, where he resided until 1817. In 1845 he was elected 
to the General Assembly of the State of Indiana and served 
one term. In 1852 he was elected judge of the circuit 
court of \7arrick County. In 1856 he was nominated 
Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana, without his knowledge and 
without being a candidate, but was defeated at the election. 
In 1861 he was commissioned Colonel of the First Indiana 
Cavalry. In 1861 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of 
Indiana, and on the resignation of Governor Morton became 
Acting Governor. In 1868 he was elected Governor of the 
State. At close of his term of office he returned to the 
pr£^.ctice of his profession. In cliaractcr Governor Baker 
was upright and conscientious. He was of fnir complexion, 
blue eyes and light hair. He died in Indianapolis, April 
23, 1885, and was buried at Evansville, Indiana. 

Thomas A. Hendricks, Indiana's sixteenth Governor, was 
born on a farm near Zanesville, Ohio, September 7th, 1819. 
In 1822 his parents removed to Shelby County, Indiana, 
where he attended the common schools. At the proper age 
he entered Hanover College from which he graduated and 
ente-red upon the study of law. lie was admitted to the bar 



360 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

and entered upon the practice of his profession at Shelby- 
ville, Indiana. In 1848 he was elected to the State Legis- 
lature and was a member of the Constitutional Convention 
of J 850-51. In 1851 he was elected to the National House 
of Representatives, and was re-elected two years later. In 
1854 he was again a candidate for Representative but was 
defeated. In 1855 he was appointed a Commissioner of 
the General Land Office, under President Pierce. In 1860 
he Avas nominated for Governor of Indiana bat was defeated 
by Henry S. Lane. Two years later he was elected to the 
United States Senate in which he served six years. In 1872 
he was elected Governor of Indiana. In 1876 he was nom- 
inated Yice-President of the United States but was defeated 
with Governor Tilden. In 1884 he was elected Yice-Presi- 
deni but did not live to serve out his term of office. He 
died in Indianapolis, in ISTovember, 1886, and was l)aried. at 
Crown Hill Cemetery. Governor Hendricks was a man of 
fine personal appearance and commanding presence. His 
manner was unassuming yet fascinating; his private life ir- 
reproachable. His mind was broad and analytic. He was 
shrewd in politics and was a brilliant debater. It has been 
said of him that he was an "ideal citizen and friend." 

James D. Williams was born at Pickaway, Ohio, January 
6th, 1808. Ten years later his family removed to Indiana 
and settled near Yincennes. The State wa3 still in its in- 
fancy, and the little education which the future Governor 
received, he procured at the log school-houses of the ])ioncer 
days. What he lacked in education he made up in reading 
and study outside of school. His youth and young man- 
hood were spent among the hardy pioneers, and being strong 
and athletic; he did his share in the clearings, in the harvest- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 361 

fields and at the log-rollings of those days. When he wus 
tw€Lty years old, his father died, and the responsibility of 
caring for the family fell upon him. In 1843 he was 
elected a Representative to the State Legislature, and for 
more than thirty years he was almost continuously in the 
Senate, or House of Representatives. In 1872 he \vas a 
i, candidate for United States Sonator. Lut was defeated by 
Governor ^Morton. In 1874, he was elected a member of 
the United States House of Representatives from the Yin- 
cennes district. AVhile at Washington he received the un- 
expected news that he had been nominated Governor of 
Indiana. His political opponents ridiculed the plain old 
farmer, and as a mark of disrespect, nick-named him ^'Blue 
Jeans." His friends took up the name and used it to ]iis 
advantage, and ''Blue Jeans" came to be a political war-cry. 
The opposing candidate was Benjamin Harrison, afterward 
President of the Ignited States, and when tlie votes ^vere 
counted Blue Jeans was elected. Governor Williams was 
an earnest and conscientious oflicer, and discharged his 
duties faithfully and well. He was the first farmer ever 
elected GoA^ernor of Indiana, and the second Governor to 
die in office. The news of his death, which occurred at In- 
dianapolis, November 20th, 1880, after a very brief illness, 
spread rapidly over the State and marked respect was shown 
him by the people of Indiana. His remains lay in state for 
two days, and were viewed by thousands of people after 
which, accompanied by hundreds of prominent citizens, 
they were taken by special train to Yincenncs, where they 
again lay in state, and were bui'ied near his home at AYheat- 
land. In person. Governor Williams was tall and spare of 
figure, with sharp prominent features, gray eyes and darli 



362 yOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

hair and wliiskers. In character he was honorable and up- 
right, not easily drawn from the path of duty by either 
friend or foe; of him it has been said: "Measured by the 
best standard; Governor Williams was a worthy citizen, a 
faithful public servant, a good man." He became Gov- 
ernor of Indiana at the age of sixty-nine and died at seventy- 
two. 

Isaac P. Gray was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 
October ISth, 1828. He received a common school educa- 
tion and engaged in mercantile business at ^New Madison, 
Oliio. In 1855 he removed to Union City, Indiana, where 
he continued the mercantile business, and later, entered the 
practice of law. When the war for the Union began he 
commanded the 106th Indiana regiment. In 1866 he was a 
candidate for Congress but was not elected. In 1868 he 
was elected to the State Senate where he served four years. 
In 1870 he was appointed United States Minister to the 
Island of St. Thomas, West Indies, but did not accept the 
position. In 1876 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor and 
on the death of Governor Williams became Acting Gov- 
ernor. In 1884 he was elected Governor of Indiana. In 
1893 he was appointed Minister to Mexico, by President 
Cleveland. In January, 1895, he was at Indianapolis on 
leave of absence, where he attended the farewell reception 
given by Governor Matthews; he immediately returned to 
Mexico but was stricken Avith paralysis on the journey and 
died soon after his arrival at the City of Mexico. His re- 
mains were returned to Indianapolis and placed in the State 
Capitol, on February 2 2d. The Legislature adjourned and 
the State officers attended the funeral Avhicli was held at 
Union City, and every respect was shown his memory. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 363 

Albert G. Porter was the second Indiana Governor bom 
on tlie soil. Ilis father was a Pennsylvanian, and a soldier 
in the war of 1812. At the end of the war he settled at 
Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and here the future Governor was 
bom. The family afterward removed to Kentucky where 
Albert and his brother were given the management of a 
ferr^y-boat across the Ohio River, nearly opposite Lawrence- 
burg, and on the regular route of travel between Indiana 
and Kentucky. Out of the allowance he received for run- 
ning this ferry, he saved enough money to enter college, 
and left to the care of others the ferry and little skiff in 
which he had rowed many notable people across the river, 
and entered Ilaucvea' College, and afterward Asbuiy (now 
DePauw) University, from which he graduated in 1843. 
Iteturning to I^wrenceburg he began the study 'and prac- 
tice of law. In 1853 he received from Governor Wright 
the appointment of Reporter of the Decisions of the Su- 
preme Court of Indiana, to fill a vacancy, and the following 
year he was elected to the same position. In 1858 he was 
elected a Representative to Congress and was re-elected two 
vears later. At the close of his term of office he returned 
home and resumed the practice of his profession. After- 
w^ird he received the appointment of Comptroller of the 
United States Treasury. In 1880, he was elected Governor 
of Indiana to succeed Governor Gray. In character Gov- 
ernor Porter was manly and generous of heart. His fea- 
tures were pleasing, his manner courteous, his disposition 
cheerful and frank. 

Alvin P. Ilovey was born in Posey County, Indiana^ Sep- 
tember Gth, 1821. His early life was one of hardship and 
deprivation. He was unable to attend any but the com- 



364 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

men schools of the county, but this rudimentary education 
he supplemented by hard study after leaving school. He 
was admitted to tlie bar in 1843, and began its practice at 
Mt. Yernon, Indiana. In 1850 he was elected a member of 
the Constitutional Convention after which he was chosen 
judge of his district, and in 1851 he was made Judge of the 
Supreme Court. In 1855 he was appointed United States 
District Attorney, by President Pierce. AVhen the war of 
the Pebellion began he entered the army as Colonel of the 
24th Indiana regiment, and was afterward promoted to 
Brigadier-General. After the close of the war he was ap- 
pointed United States Minister to Peru, which office he held 
for five years, when he resigned and returning to Indiana 
resumed the practice of law. In 1886 he Avas elected a 
Representative to Congress, and in 1888 was elected Gov- 
ernor of Indiana. Governor Hovey was taken ill at the 
Denison Hotel in Indianapolis, and died ^November 23d, 
1891, and was buried at Mt. Yernon. In appearance Gov- 
eriioi* Hovey was dignified and imposing. In character he 
was determined and self-reliant. He was a fine Latin 
scholar and a writer of both prose and poetry. 

Ira J. Chase was born in Pockport, N. Y., December 7th, 
1834. where his father was a farmer. He attended the pub- 
lic schools and graduated from a seminary in Medina, in 
that vicinity. AVhen he was twenty years of age he re- 
moved with his parents to Chicago, which was then only a 
good-sized A'illage; here he worked on a farm for a while, 
afterward becoming a trader. AYhen the war for the Union 
began lie joined the 10th Illinois Yolunteers and served 
until discharged on account of disability in 1863. He was 
piarried to Rhoda I. Castle just before he entered the army 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OP INDIANA. 865 

and after receiving his discharge he returned to the farm, 
hut his health was delicate and he was obliged to abandon it. 
He then entered the ministry in the Christian Church, serv- 
ing as pastor at Mishawaka, LaPorte, Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, Peoria, Illinois, ^Vabash and Danville, Indiana. In 
■ 18 S 6 he was a candidate for Congress but was defeated. In 
1887 he was elected Department Commander of the Grand 
Army of the Pepublic in which organization he was very 
popular. In 1888 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of 
Indiana. On the death of Governor Ilovey he succeeded 
to the office and served as Acting Governor for the remain- 
der of the term. In 1892 he was a candidate for Governor 
but was defeated by Claude Matthews. After retiring from 
office, Governor Chase again took up his ministerial work, 
which he continued until the close of his life. Tie died of 
erysipelas in Lubec, Maine, May 11th, 1895, where he was 
conducting religious meetings. His remains were brought 
to Indianapolis and lay in state at the State House where 
thousands of people went to pay tribute of respect to his 
memory, after which they were interred at Crown Hill 
Cemetery. Governor Chase was small in stature with blue 
eyes and fair complexion. He had a remarkable gift to 
hold audiences, wherever and upon whatever topic he spoke. 
He was earnest, generous and sympathetic and was greatly 
loved by those who knew him. 

Claude Matthews was born in Bath County, Kentucky, 
December 14th, 1845. From the farm where he spent his 
boyhood days he went to Central College at Danville, Ken- 
tucky, from which he graduated in 1SG7. A year later he 
was married to ^riss Martha E. AYhitcomb, the only daugh- 
ter of Governor Whitcomb, and removed to Vermillion 



366 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

County, Indiana, where lie snccessfully engaged in farming 
and stock raising. In ISTG he was elected a member of the 
Indiana Legislature; in 1S82 he was a candidate for State 
Senator hut was defeated by a party vote. In 1890 he was 
elected Secretary of State, and in 1892 was elected Gov- 
ernor of Indiana. At the close of his official duties be re-' 
turned to his home near Clinton and resumed his former 
avocation. While addressing an Old Settlers' Meeting at 
Meharry's Grove near Yeedersburg, August 25, 1898, Gov- 
ernor Matthews was suddenly stricken with paralysis and 
died three days later. His death w^as a shock to the entire 
country. His remains were rcmo^^ed to Hazel Bluff Fann, 
Governor Matthews' country home, where, on August 31st, 
funeral services were conducted after which they were 
taken to the Presbyterian Church at Clinton and lay in state 
for three hours, and were then interred in the Clinton Cem- 
eteiiy. The funeral was attended by the Governor and 
State officials, and thousands of people gathered to pay re- 
spec^, to his memory. High tribute to his worth was paid 
by public men all over the State. Governor Matthews w^s 
a model of manly strength and vigor. He was almost six 
feet tall, wxll proportioned, with dark complexion, hair and 
eyes, and an attractive and winning personality. In char- 
acter he was positive and upright, with strong intellect aud 
gentle unaffected manner. As a speaker he was earnest, 
persuasive and convincing. He was a loyal citizen and a 
faitliful friend. AYhile serving the State as chief execu- 
tive, he conducted affairs in such a manner as to gain the 
respect and approval of all. His private life was beau- 
tiful and in every way commendable, while his home rela- 
tions approached the ideal. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 867 

James A. Mount is the fourth native Inclianian to be- 
come Govenioir of the State. He was born in Montgomery 
County, March 23d, 1843. His boyhood days were spent 
in hard work on the farm and in attending the district 
schools which .affooxled him a.11 the cducatiooal advantages 
he enjoyed. The education thus acquired he supplemented 
with hard study and extensive reading out of school. In 
1862, when but ninetee;n years old, he enlisted in the famous 
17th Indiana Volunteers which became a part of the far- 
famed Wilder's Brigade as moimted infantry, and was suc- 
cessively promoted to Coqwral >and Sergeant, and seiwed 
until the end of the war. General Wilder, in a letter dated 
March 2 6th, 1896, bore testimony to the gallantry of tlie 
young soldier. After the close of the wa^r he returned 
home and attended school for a year, then leased a farm and 
devoted all his energies to its cultivation. . In the avocation 
of farming he has been very successful, and is to-day the 
possessor of one of the largest land best cultivated fanns in 
his county. His ability as a farmer has long been recog- 
nized and he is regarded as authority on many subjects re- 
lating to farming and has frequently been called to speak 
before farmers' assemblies throughout the country. In 
1388 he was elected to the State Senate where he was at 
once recognized as one of the able and progressive imen of 
that body. He was elected Governor in 1896, a.nd entered 
upon the duties of the office in January, 1897. One of the 
distinctive features of his administration has been to place 
the affairs of the State upon a business basis and the benev- 
olent and penal institutions upon a non-partisan basis. In 
f-tature. Governor Mount is rather below the medium 
height, with a symmetrical and well-formed figure, indica- 



368 YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 

tive of ale-rtness and endurance. He lias a large, well- 
formed head and an intelligent face. As a speaker he is 
concise in his statements and convincing in his argnnients. 
lie is a leader in the Presbyterian Churcli, and his private 
life is irreproiachable. Early in life he was married to Miss 
Kate A. Boyd, of Boone County. 



To the world of statesmanship, of science, literature and 
art, Indiana has contributed her share. Practically she has 
given two Presidents of the United States, for while Wil- 
liam Henry Ilan'ison was born in Virginia, and elected 
from Ohio, he was more closely identified with early Indiana 
than with any other locality. Forty-eight years after his 
inauguration and death, his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, 
was elected from Indiana to fill the highest office in the gift 
of the people. 

Two Vice-Presidents of the IJnitied States, Schuyler Col- 
fax and Thomas A. Hendricks, Avere Indianians, and our 
State furnished three Speakers of the National House of 
Pepresentatives; these were John AV. Davis, Schuyler Col- 
fax and Michael C. Kerr. 

Some of the most brilliant orators and men prominent in 
public affairs are from Indiana. The list is too long to give 
in full, but among them may be mentioned Jesse D. Bright, 
Caleb B. Smith, Eobert Dale Owen, Edward A. TIannegan, 
William S. Ilolman, Daniel W. Voorhees, Richard L. 
Thompson, John W. Foster, Joseph E. McDonald, and 
George W. Julian. Among the most prominent command- 
ers in the war for the Union were Generals A. E. Burnside 
and Jeff. C. Davis, who were natives of the State. An In- 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF INDIANA. 369 

dianiaii, Admiral George Brown, for tliree years stood at 
the Lead of the United States Kavy, and was one of its most 
brilliant and efficient officers. Among men of scie'nce, In- 
diana claims David S. Jordan, Dr. J. M. Coulter, David 
Dale Owen, E. T. Cox, Dr. Joseph U. Rose, Stanley Coul- 
ter, Amos W. Butler and many others. 

Indiana has contributed to the world of .literature, three 
of the most famous authors of the present day. Xeed I tell 
vou that these three are Lew AVallace, Jaimes Whitcomb 
Riley and Maurice Thompson? While this trio has per- 
haps reached the highesit point in literary fame, there are 
many other men and womicn wdio have, by their production 
of both prose and poetry, reflected honor upon our State. 
Among these may be mentioned Robert Dale Owen, Sarah 
T. Bolton, Edward Eggleston, Rose Ilardwick Tharp, Joa- 
quin Miller and later, William Dudley Foulke, Richard 
Thompson, W. P. Eishback, Will Cumback, Benjamin Har- 
rison, Amos W. Butler and Benjamin S. Parker. Among 
the Indiana writers of history are James B. Dillon, John 
Clark Ridpath, William Wesley Woollen, William Watson 
Woollen, Jacob P. Dunn, W. H. English, Mrs. Thomas A. 
Hendricks, and W. H. Smith. 

It is impossible to publish a complete list of Indiana's 
prominent men and women, but it is not amiss to say that 
ihej have taken their places among those who stand the 
highest in statesmanship, in art, in science and social re- 
form. 



24 



APPENDICES. 



APPENDIX A. 

COUNTIES. 



County. 



Organized. 



County Seat. 



For Whom Named. 



Adams 

Alien 

Bartholomew. 

Benton 

Blackford 

Boone 

Brown 

Carroll 

Cass 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton 

Crawford 

Daviess 

Dearborn 

Decatur 

DeKalb 

Delaware 

Dubois 

Klkhart 

Fayette 

Floyd 

Fountain 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gibson , 

Grant 

Greene 

Hamilton 

Hancock , 

Harrison 

Hendricks 

Henry 

*Howard , 

Huntington . . , 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jay 

Jefferson' 

Jennings 

Johnson 

Knox 

Kosciusko 

LaGrange 

Lake 

Laporte 

Lawrence 



Feb. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Jan. 
Dec. 



Feb. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Dec. 



Dec. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Feb. 

xMar. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

J>ec. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 



7, 1835 

17, 1823 

8, 18U 

18, 1810 
15, 1838 
29, 1830 

4, 1830 
7, 1828 

18, 1828 
... 1802 
12, 1825 
29, 1830 
29, 1818 
24, 1816 
... 1805 

21, 1821 
7, 1835 

22, 1820 
20. 1817 

29, 1830 
28, 1818 

2, 1819 

30, 1825 

27, 1810 

7, 18 5 
0, 1813 

10, 1831 

5, 1821 

8, 1823 

26, 1827 

11, 1808 
20, 1823 

31, 1821 

28, 1816 
2, 1832 

18, 1815 
7, 1835 
7, 1835 

23, 1810 

27, 1816 
31, 1822 
14, 1790 

7, 1835 
2, 1832 

28, 1836 

9, 1832 
7, 1818 



Decatur 

Ft. Wayne 

Columbus 

Fowler 

Hartford City. . 

Lebanon 

Nashville 

Delphi 

Logansport 

Jefferson ville.. 

Brazil 

Frankfort 

Leavenworth .. 
Washingt> n ... 
Lawrenceburg. 

Greensburg 

Auburn 

Muncie 

Jasper 

Goshen 

Connersville... 
New Albany.. . 

Covington 

Brookville 

Rochester 

Princeton 

Marion 

Bloomfield 

Noblesville 

Greetifiild 

Corydon 

Danville 

New Castle 

Kokomo 

Huntington 

Brownstown. . . 

Rensselear 

Portland 

Madison 

Vernon 

Franklin 

Vincennes 

Warsaw 

LaGrange 

Crown Point.. . 

Laporte 

Bedford 



John Adams. 
Col. John Allen. 
General Bartholomew. 
Thomas H. Benton. 
Judge Blackford. 
Hatliffe Boone. 
Gen. Jacob Brown. 

Lewis Cass. 

Gen. George E. Clark. 

De Witt Clinton. 
Col. Wm. Crawford. 
Colonel Davis. 
Col. Henry Dearborn. 
Commodore Decatur. 
General DeKalb. 
An Indian tribe. 
Toussant Lubois. 

LaFayette. 

Major Fountain. 
Benjamin Franklin. 
Robert Fulton. 
Gen. John Gibson. 
Capt. Samuel Grant. 
General Greene. 
Alexander Hamilton. 
John Hancock. 
Gen. W. H. Harrison. 
Gen. Wm. Hendricks. 
Patrick Henry. 
Gen. T. A. Howard. 
Samuel Huntington. 
Andrew Jackson. 
Sergeant Jasper. 
John Jay. 
Thomas Jefferson. 
Jonathan Jennings. 



A Polish soldier. 
Home of LaFayette. 
Lake Michigan. 

Captain Lawrence. 



-Howard County and Tipton County were organized as Richardville County, 
out of the great Miama Reservation, Feb, 16, 1839 ; afterward Tipton was organ- 
ized and Howard remained Richardville until 1846. 

(371) 



372 



APPENDICES. 
COUNTIES— Continued. 



County. 



Madison 

Marion 

Marshall 

Marlin 

Miami 

Monroe 

Montgomery.. 

Morgan : . 

Newton 

Noble 

Ohio , 

I ^-Orange .... — 
^•^ Owen 

Parke 

Perry 

Pike 

Po ter 

Posey 

Pulaski 

Putnam 

Randolph .... 

Ripley 

Rush 

Scott 

Shelby 

Spencer 

Starite 

Steuben 

St. Joseph .... 

Sullivan 

Switzerland... 

Tippecanoe . . 

*Tipton 

Union 

Vanderburgh. 

Vermillion . . . 

Vigo 

Wabash 

Warren 

Warrick 

[^ Washington.. 

Wayne 

Wells 

White 

Whitley 



Organized 



County Seat 



For Whom Named. 



Jan. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Sept. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Mar 

Dee. 

Nov. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Feb. 



4, 1823 
31, 1821 

7, 1835 
17, 1820 

2, 1832 

14, 1818 
21, 1822 
31, 1821 

7, 1835 
7, 1835 

4, 1S14 

26, 1815 
21, 1818 

9, 1821 

7, 1814 
21, 1816 

7, 1835 
, 7, 1814 

7, 1835 
31, 1821 
10, 1818 

27, 1816 
31, 1821 
12, 1820 
31, 1821 
10, 1818 

7, 1835 
7, IS !5 

29, 1830 

30, 1816 
7, 1814 

20, 1826 

15, 1844 

5, 1821 
7, 1818 
2, 1824 

21, 1818 

22, 1835 
19, 1827 

9, 1813 
21, 1813 
27. 1810 
7, 1835 
1, 1834 
7, 1835 



Anderson 

Indianapolis . . 

Plymouth 

Shoals 

Peru 

Bloomington . . 
Crawfordsville 
Martinsville . . . 

Kentland 

Albion 

Rising Sun . — 

Paoli 

Spencer 

Rockville 

Cannelton 

Petersburg .... 

Valparaiso 

Mt. Vernon 

Winamac 

Greencastle .... 
Winchester.... 

Versailles 

Rushville 

Lexington 

Shelby ville.... 

Rockport 

Knox 

Angola 

South Bend 

Sullivan 

Vevay 

Lafayette 

Tipton 

Liberty 

Evansville 

Newport 

Terre Haute . . . 

Wabash 

Williamsport . . 

Boonville 

Salem 

Richmond 

Bluffton 

Monticello 

Columbia City. 



James Madison. 
Gen. Francis Marion. 
Chief Justice Marshall. 
Major Martin. 
An Indian tribe. 
James Monroe. 
General Montgomery. 
General Morgan. 
Sir Isaac Newton. 
Noah Noble. 
Ohio River. 

A county in N. Cftrolina. 
Col. Abram Owen. 
Benjamin Parke. 
Commodore Perry. 
Gen. Z. M. Pike. 
Commodore Porter. 
Thomas Posey. 
A Polish soldier. 
General Putnam. 
A county in N. Carolina. 
Gen. E. W. Ripley. 
Dr. Benjamin Rush. 
Gen. Charles Scott. 
Isaac Shelby. 
Captain Spencer. 

Baron Steuben. 
St. Joseph River. 
General Sullivan. 
Switzerland. 
Tippecanoe River. 
Gen. John Tipton. 

Judge Vanderburgh. 

Francis Vigo. 
Wabash River. 
Gen. Jos. Warren. 
Captain Warrick. 
George Washington. 
Gen. Anthony Wayne. 

Colonel White. 
Col. W. Whitley. 



APPENDICES. 37JJ 



APPENDIX B. 



GOVERNOR OF THE NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY. 
Arthur St. Clair 1787-1800 

GOVERNORS OF INDIANA TERRITORY. 

William Henry Harrison 1800-1S12 

Thomas Posey 1812-1816 



GOVERNORS OF INDIANA. 

Jonathan Jennings 1816-1822 

Ratliffe Boone 1822-.. . . 

William Hendricks 1822-1825 

James B. Ray 1825-1831 

Noah Noble 1831-1837 

David Wallace 1837-1840 

Samuel Bigger 1840-1843 

James Whiteomb 1S43-184S 

Paris C. Dunning (acting) 1848-1849 

Joseph A. Wright 1849-1857 

Ashbel P. Willard 1857-1860 

Abram A. Hammond • • 1860-1861 

Henry S. Lane ^^^^~- ' • • 

Oliver P. Morton 1861-1867 

Conrad Baker 1867-1873 

Thomas A. Hendricks 1873-1877 

James D. Williams 1877-18S0 

Isaac P. Gray (acting) 1880-1881 

Albert G. Porter 1881-1885 

Isaac P. Gray 1885-1889 

AlvinP.Hovey 1889-1891 

Ira J. Chase (acting) - 1891-1893 

Claude Matthews 1893-1897 

James A. Mount ^897- .... 



374 APPENDICES. 



APPENDIX C. 



UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

James Noble 1816-1831 

Waller Tayler 1816-1825 

William Hendricks 1825-1837 

Robert Hanna (appointed) 1831- 

John Tipton. 1831-1839 

Oliver H. Smith 1837-1843 

Albert S. White ■. 1839-1845 

Edward A. Hannegan 1843-1849 

Jesse D. Bright 1845-1861 

James Whitcomb 1819-1852 

Charles W. Cathcart (appointed) 1852-1853 

John Petit 1853-1857 

Graham N. Fitch 1857-1861 

Joseph A. Wright (appointed) 1861-1863 

Henry S. Lane 1861-1867 

David Turpie 1863-. . . . 

Thomas A. Hendricks 1863-1869 

Oliver P. Morton 1867-1877 

Daniel D. Pratt 1869-1875 

Joseph E. McDonald 1875-1881 

Daniel W. Voorhees 1877-1897 

Benjamin Harrison 1881-1887 

David Turpie 1887-1899 

Charles W. Fairbanks 1897-. . . . 

Albert J. Beveridge 1899-. . . . 



APPENDICES. 375 



TABULATED STATEMENT. 



Lands granted by the United States to Indiana for internal improvements and 
other purposes: 

For Common Schools (sixteenth sections) 631,863.71 acres. 

For University, College or Seminary 46,080.00 

For Michigan Road 170,582.20 

For Wabash and Erie Canal 1,439,279.41 

For Permanent Seat of Government T*. 2,560.00 

Swamp lands 1,209,422.99 

Saline lands 24,235.58 



Total 3,524,022.99 acres. 



INDEX, 



PAGE. 

Abbott, Lieut.-Gov 53, 66 

Adams, J ohn 94, 95, 96 

Advisory Boards 166 

Agriculture 337, 354 

Alice Dean 386 

Alleghany Mountains. . . 22, 34, 36, 93, 239 

Alexandria 285 

Allen, Capt. I). F 316 

American Troops 128, 129, 130, 247 

Americans.... 74, 79, 80. 82, 83, 84, 86, 93, 
119, 121, 126. 128, 129, 130, 
132, 133, 135, 140, 147, 239, 246 

Anti-Slavery 266 

Arsenal 275 

Attorney at Law 322 

Attorney-General 162 

Baker, Conrad 359 

Ballot 324, 325 

Bank, Farmers of lud 264, 265 

Bank, State 218,264 

Bank of Vincennes 264, 265 

Bank of Issue 266 

Banking system 254, 256, 266 

Baptists 202 

Barkwell, H. G 253 

Barnett, Col. J. F 316 

Beauregard, Gen 271 

Bedford 232 

Beecher, Rev. Henry Ward 348 

Benevolent institutions 304, 307 

Benton, Wm. P 273 

Berry, Rev. L. W 348 

Biddle, Horace 1' 252 

Bigger, Samuel 350 

Black Hawk 238 

Blackford, Judge Isaac 224, 253 

Block Houses 137 

Bloomfield, Loi 143 

Bioomington 220, 232, 351, 352 

Blythe, Benjamin 1 222 

Blue Jeans 361 

Boiird of Education 163, 164, 299, 300 

Board of Health 163, 164 

Board of Internal Improvements 233, 

235, 348 

Board of Public Works 231 

Board of Review 302 

Board of J-tate Charities 163 

Board of Treasury 194 

Board of Trustees 306, 810 

Bolton, Sarah T 369 

Boone, Ratliflf 344 

Bordon, James 252 

Bowles, Col. W. A : 248 

Bowman, Capt 61, 72, 75 



PAGE. 

Boyd, Col 126 

Boyle, Gen 282,288 

Bragg, Gen 283 

Brandenburg 285 

Bridges, John 143, 144 

Bright, Michael C 252 

Bright, Jesse B 368 

British 130, 131, 134, 135, 141, 166 

British Government •.... 49, 55, 133 

British Officers 75, 76 

British So diers 74, 75, 79, 88, 93, 97 

Broad Ripple 237, 238 

Brock, Gen 134 

Brookville 156, 195, 346, 347, 349, 355 

Brown, Admiral George 289, 368 

Buckner, Capt. J. M 316 

Butler, Amos W 368, 369 

Buntin, Robt 99 

Burnett, Jacob 94 

Burnside, Gen 289 

Burr, Aaron 103, 104 

Cambridge City 246 

Canada 20, 21, 110, 130, 131, 134, 168 

Canal, Central 231, 238 

Canal, Erie 229, 236 

Canal, Wabash and Erie. . 231, 235, 236, 259 

Canal, White Water 231, 234 

Canton 293 

Carr, Gen. John 343, 346 

Carr, Geo. W 253 

Carri ngton. Gen 290 

Catholic 220 

Caves 335 

Celeron, Capt 34. 35, 67 

Centerville 246, 357 

Chariest n 271, 847 

Chase, Ira J 364, 365 

Chicago 135, 364 

Churches 198, 199 

Circle Park 203 

Circuit Rider 225 

Clark, George Rogers 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 

59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 
68, 69,71,72, 73, 74,75, 76, 77, 
78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 168, 213 

Clark's Grant 79, 82, 97 

Clinton 366 

Coal 336 

Cohoka 71 

Colfax, bchuyler 251, 252,368 

Columbus 231, 355 

Confederate 271, 282 

Confederate Army 285 

Confederate Prisoners 277, 281, 283, 284 

Confederacy 14, 31, 80, 89, 117 



(377) 



378 



INDEX. 



PAGE. 

Congress 91, 96, 101, 104, 105, 107, 

133, 147, 155, 190, 23S, 2:i9, 213, 216, 
217, 247. 251, 314, 338, 344, 345, 356 

Congress, Continental 81, 84 

Congress, Delegates to 147, 342 

Congressmen 389 

Conner, John 115, 116 

Conner, William 143, 221 

Coi! nersville 221, 224 

Constitution of Indiana 158 

214, 219, 250, 254, 255, 257 
258, '/59, 263, 311, 812, 318 

Constitutional Convention 151, 154 

245, 249, 2o3, 349, 353, 359 

Constitutional Elm 154 

Coulter, Dr. J. M 368 

Coulter, Stanley 368 

County Advisory Board 303 

County Assessor 302 

County Auditor 165, 106, 177, 3()2 

County Board of Commissioners., 16), 166 
324, 328, 329, 167, K 8, 303 

County Clerk 165, 167, 30i 

County l.eeorder 166, 167 

County Seal 165 

County Sheriff 165, 167, 168 

County Treasurer 165, 167, 303 

Counties- 
Allen 253 

Clark 99, 110, 136, 137, 155, 156 

Crawford 335 

Daviess 156 

Dearborn 97, 99, 110, 156 

Delaware 167 

Floyd 202 

Franklin 97, 156, 253, 347 

Gibson 156 

Hamilton 143, 221 

Harrison 110, 137, 145, 156, 285, 292 

Howard 167 

Jackson 156,29! 

Jay 97 

Jefferson 136, 137, 156, 236, 294 

Jennings 156, 293 

Knox. . . 91, 94, 97, 102, 110, 137, 167, 231 

Lawrence 253, 292 

Marion 321 

Miami 140 

Montgomery. . = 356, 367 

Ohio 97 

Orange 156, 191, 292 

Parke 125 

Perry. . . : 156, 253 

Pike 156 

Posey 156,202,363 

Randolph 97 

Ripley 236 

Rush 308 

Scott . . . .■ 1 36, 293 

Shelby 236, 350 

St. Clair 102 

Sullivan 156 

Switzerland 156 

Tippecanoe 309 

Vermilion 365 

Warrick 156,281,844,359 



PAGE. 

Counties—Continued. 

Washington 155, 15G, 292, 293 

Wayne 97, lOi, ] 56, 246, 254,357 

Court. . . . 103, 161, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322 

Court House 224 

C()x,E. T 368 

Cravens, Maj. Jas. A 295 

Crawfordsville 195, 220, 282, 356 

Crown Hill 850, 360 

Cuba 314 

Culver 220 

Cumberland 339 

Cumback, Will 369 

Curtis, Capt. James B 316 

Dalton, Thomas 84 

1 'anville 365 

Davis, Jefferson 270 

Davis, John W 368 

Dearborn I;i5 

Detroit 79, 89, 134, 135, 140, 141 

Dillon, John B 154,369 

Drate, Col. Jas. P 247 

Drainage 330 

Dublin 246, 254 

Dunn, Jacob P 74, 809 

Imnn, John P 252 

Dunn, Wm.McKee 252 

Dunning, Pa: is C 252 

Dumont, Gen. Ebenezer 248, 273 

Dumont, John 231 , 248 

Dupont 204 

Durbin, Col. W. T 316 

Earlham College 220 

Eggleston, Edward 369 

Elections 333 

Electors 325, 352 

Elizabethtown 234 

England 1-9, 22, 34, 130, 1.33 

English King 34, 49, 74, 168 

English, Wm. H .251, 252, 253, 369 

Evans, Robtrt M 353 

Executive Department 159 

Farquhar, Gen 290 

Fermin, Father 23 

Federal Government 270 

!• inancial Panic 233 

Findlay, James 94 

Fishback, W. P S69 

Flag, American 67 

Fletcher, Calvin 143 

Folev, James B 252 

Fordham, Elias P 222 

Fort Chartres 32 

Fort DuQuesne 38, 339 

Fort Greenville 88, 89, 97, 115, 149 

Fort (;age 66 

Fort Harrison 124, 125, 130, 136, 149 

Fort Knox 99 

Fort Miami 30, 31, 88 

Fort Patrick Henry 76 

Fort Pitt 339 

Fort Sackville 71, 73 

FortSumpter 271 



INDEX. 



379 



PAGE. 

Fort Vincennes 318 

Fort Washington 86, 91 

Fort Wayne 10, 30, 38, 79, 

89, 97, 98, 99, 108, 136, 135, 
139, 140, 191, 205, 310, 350 

Foster, John W 368 

Foulk, William Dudley 369 

France 19,22,27,34,92,93,131, 133 

Franklin 226 

French 21, 22, 32, 100 

French King 19, 1 68 

Fribarger, Gen 291 

Friends 202, 220, 252 

Funds, School 216, 217, 218 

Gage, Gen 49, 50, 53 

Gamlin, Antonie 85, 86 

General Assembly of Virginia.. 79, 94, 359 

General Assemblv of Indiana 1(6, 107, 

145, 147, 150, 156, 159, 224, 226 

Geologist 162, 163 

Gibalt, Father ....65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 77, 85 

Gibson, Gen. John 102, 

120, 145, 339, 340, 341 

Gladwin, Maj 43, 44, 45 

Gorman, Col. Willis A 248 

Governor, Indiana 154, 160, 16i, 164 

Governor, Indiana Territory 91, 94, 

95, 96, 102, 108 

Governor, Pennsylvania 35 

Governor, Virginia 76 

Governor's Circle 224, 225, 227 

Governor's Residence 224 

Gray, Isaac P 362, 363 

Grand Army of the Republic 309, 365 

Great Britian 80, 92, 

122, 131, 132, 133, 135, 145 

Great Spirit 17, 114, 115, 116, 122 

Greencastle 220, 232 

Greenlawn Cemetery 351 

Greenfield 246, 355 

Greenville 292 

Griffin, John 102 

Griffith's Station 230 

Gurlcy, Dr 348 

Gunder, Geo. W 316 

Hall, Samuel 252 

Hamilton, Alexander 103 

Hamilton, Lieut.-Gov..68, 69, 70, 74, 75, 76 

Hammond, Abram P 355, 356 

Hamtranck, Col. J. F 85, 89 

Hannegan, Edward A 368 

Hanover College 220, 359 

Hardy, Samuel 81 

Harmar, Gen 79, 86, 89, 91 

Harmony 154, 202, 203 

Harper, Thomas 142 

Harrison, Benjamin 361, 368, 369 

Harrison, Christopher 155, 222, 342 

Hafrison, Wm. Henrv 105, 106, 107, 

108, 109,111, 112, 113, 114, 
115, 116,119, 120, 121, 122, 

123, 124,126, 127, 128, 130, 
131, 135, 138, 139, 140, 145, 

\ 149, 170, 214, 241, 338, 368 



PAGE. 

Hascall, Gen 290 

Hay, Maj 75 

Helm, Capt 61, 67, 68, 69, 75, 76 

Hendricks, Thos. A. . 251, 252, 253, 359, 368 

Hendricks, Mrs. Thos. A 369 

Hendricks, William 156, 229, 344, 345 

Henry, Patrick 58, 60, 61 , 78, 346 

Herrod, Capt 61 

H ines, Capt 84 

Hobson, Gen 293, 295 

Holman, Wm. S 252, 368 

Hoosier 228, 332, 357 

Hopkins, Gen 139 

Hovcy, Alviu P 252, 363, 364, 865 

Howe, John B 252 

Ilubbell 295 

II udson 143 

Hughes, Gen 294 

Hull, Gen. Wm 134 

Illinois 9, 10, 23, 56, 79. 84, 91, 

102, 135, 229, 239, 246, 318 

Indiana 9, 10, il, 12, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 

32,38, 55, ; 6, 77,79,84, 91, 
97, 102. 103, 142, 150, 156, 
168, 170, 216, 229, 239, 264, 
273, 280, 285, 310, 332, 333 

Indiana Hospitals for Insane 307 

Indiana Industrial School and Prison 304, 

305, 306 

Indiana Institution for the Blind 307 

Indiana Institution lor the Deaf. . 307, 308 

Indiana Legion 2S0, 281, 2s2 

Indiana Kational Guards .... 312, 313, 316 

Indiana, Physical 332 

Indiana Regiments for Spanish War.. 316 

Indiana Reformatory 304 

Indiana Reform School for Boys.. 304, 305 

Indiana Reading Circle 299 

Indiana School for Feeble-minded. . . 307, 

308, 309 

Indiana Soldiers 273, 274 

Indiana Soldiers' Home 307, 308 

Indiana Soldiers' Orphans' Home 307, 

308, 309, 310 

Indiana State Prison 304 

Indiana Territory, . . .105, 106, 107, 110, 112, 
126, 130, 135, 145, 146, 168, 318 

Indianapolis 11 , 

192, 195, 203, 220, 221, 225, 
226, 230, 232, 233, 237, 246, 
265, 290, 296, 305, 355, 358 

Internal Improvements 228, 

234, 245, 327, 348 
Indians — 

Chippewas 90 

Delawares 85, 90, 118, 125, 142 

Kickapoos 85 

Miamis 14, 18, 46, 

86, 120, 140, 142, 143, 236 

Ottawas 90 

Ouiatanon 85 

Piankeshaws 76, 85 

Pottawattomies 86, 

90, 118, 142, 236, 346 
Seneeas 142, 143 



380 



INDEX, 



PAGE. 

Indians— Continued . 

Shawnees 9, 86, 125 

Twightwees 14 

Weas 86, 90 

Wyandotte 90, 129 

Irvington 220 

Jackson, Andrew 24, 268, 343 

Jefferson, Thomas... 81, 103, 107, 133, 208 

Jeffersonville 195, 232, 305, 341 

Jenkins, Lieutenant 46 

Jennings, Jonathan 110, 197, 

151, 155, 221, 341, 342, 344 

Joaquin Miller 369 

Johnson, A. R. 280 

Johnson, John 43 

Jordan, Colonel 286 

Jordan, David S 368 

Judiciary 161 

Kaskaskia 63, 64, 65, 

66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 77, 79, 87 

Kemper, Bishop 229 

Kentucky 9,56,57,61,79,83, 84, 88, 

135, 251, 279, 282, 283, 285, 
316, 347. 351, 354, 356, 365 

Kerr, Michael C 168 

Kilgore, David 252 

King Louis XIV 27 

King Louis XV 23 

Kimball, Gen. Nathan 248 

Knightstown 308 

LaFayette 30, 67, 79, 97, 129, 

220, 229, 232, 236, 237, 309 

Land ceded 97, 351 

Land Office 192, 194, 195, 347, 851 

Lane, Col. Henry S 347, 356, 557 

Lane, Daniel S 156 

Lane, Gen. Jas. H 248 

Lane, Gen. Joseph 247 

LaPorte 865 

LaSalle 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32, 84, 48 

Lawrenceburg 99, 363 

Laws 109, 157, 317, 329 

Lawton, Maj.-Gen. H. W 317 

Leavenworth 286 

Legislative Council 94, 

95, 105, 107, 108, 146, 147 

Legislative Department 159 

Legislature, State.. 164, 167, 215, 217, 218, 

221, 227, 232, 234, 235, 245, 
265,263, 276, 311, 318, 329, 
352, 353, 356, 361, 362, 366 

Legislature, Territorial 95, 96, 

103, 105, 108, 109, 110, 111, 
145, 146, 148, 214, 318, 344 

Legislature, Virginia 59, 78, 79, 81 

Librarian 286 

Lieutenant-Governor 159, 161, 352, 

354, 355, 358. 359, 362, 365 
Lincoln, Abraham.. 269, 272, 277. 296, 353 

Little Turtle 14, 89, 90, 131 

Lockhart, James 252 

Logan , Capt 84, 296 

Logansport 229, 236, 237 



PAG^. 

Louisiana « 27, 93 

Louisville , 28, 282 

Love, Gen 282, 294 

Lowe, Capt. Wm. H 248 

Ludlow 142 

Mackinaw 46, 134 

Madison 225, 230, 231, 293, 244 

Madison, James. . 124, 183, 134, 151, 156, 341 

Madison Railway 226, 227, 234 

Manil a 317 

Manson, Gen. Mahlon D 248, 273 

Marietta, Ohio 85 

Martinsville 238 

Matthews, Claude 862, 365, 366 

Mauxport 285, 286 

May, Col. Allen 248 

McCoy, Major 248 

McDonald, Joseph E 356, 358, 368 

McGinnis, Geo. F 248, 369 

McKee, Gen. W. J 316 

McKinley, William 315 

Methodists 202, 220 

Michigan 9," 14, 56, 84, 

106, 134, 135, 168, 230, 354 

Michigan City 225, 305 

Michigan Road .... 225, 233, 236, 346, 347 

Militia 87, 91, 127, 134, 

147, 280, 287, 310, 311, 312 

Miller, Smith 252 

Milroy, Gen. Robt. H 247, 252, 273 

Minnesota 84, 102. 354 

Minute Men 284 

Mishawaka 365 

Missionaries 23, 28 

Mitchell 292 

Mound Builders 12 

Mount, James A 316 

Mount Pleasant 232 

Mount Vernon 364 

Morgan, Gen. John 280, 

284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 
291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296 

Morton, Oliver P 273,275, 

276, 282, 283, 288, 289, 290, 

315, 853, 354, 356, 357, 359 

Morton, Camp 273, 276 

National Road 233, 239, 245, 288 

Natural Gas 336 

New Albany 288 

New Alsace 296 

Newburg 281 

New England 268 

New Mexico 248 

Newport 122 

New Philadelphia 293 

New Purchase 167 

New, Robt. A 156 

New York. . 104, 239, 256, 352, 353, 354, 364 

Niles.JohnB 252 

Noffsinger 252 

Noble, James 143, 156, 197, 230 

Noble. Noah, Gov 234, 2.38, 348 

Noblesville 143, 221, 238 

Normal School, State 164 



INDEX. 



381 



PAGE. 

North Carolina 251, 344, 352 

Northwebtern Territory 81, 

84. 85, 87, 92, 95, 96, 97, 

101, 140, 168, 190, 213, 317 

Notre Darae 220 

Officers of State 161 

Ohio 9, 14, 84, 89, 143, 239, 

251, 281, 285, 350, 359, 360 

Ohio Company 34 

Ohio Falls 76, 77, 78, 79, 82, 97, 171. 229 

Ohio Valley 46, 93 

Old Settleis' Meeting 3G6 

Ordinance of 1787 255 

Osgood •• 295 

Ouiatanon 30, 31, 32, 38, 46, 79, 82 

Owen, David Dale 308 

Owen, Robert 203 

Owen, Robert Dale . . 250, 252, 256, 368, 369 

Palmyra 292 

Paoli 191, 232, 292 

Parke, Benjamin 1U8 

Parker, S. Benjamin 369 

Pendleton 142, 143, 144 

Petroleum 336 

Pigeon Roost Settlement 137, 179 

Pettit, John 252 

Pierceville 295 

Pioneer 181, 186, 198 

Piqua 141 , 3iJ0 

Polk, James K 211,217 

Ponce de Leon 27 

Pontiac 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48 

Portage 30, 89, 99 

Porter, Albert G 357, 3G3 

Posey, Thomas 88, 147, 150, 340, 341 

Postilion 244 

Presbyterian 202 

Presidents, U. S. . . . 94, 95, 96, 103, 107, 121, 

122, 124, 148, 168, 326, 368 

Protocol 317 

Randolph, Thomas 342 

Ranke, Capt. Wm. F 316 

Rappe, Frederick 202 

Raridei), James 143 

Ray, Gen. James B. . . 143, 229, 245, 246, 351 

Ray, Martin M 143 

Reporter of Decisions 162 

Richmond 220, 233, 246, 283, 284, 296 

Ridpath, John Clark 369 

Riley, James Whitcomb 368 

Ristine, Joseph 252 

Rivers- 
Eel 231 

Fall Creek 221 

Illinois 11, 14, 25, 239 

Kankakee 11, 23, 25 

Maumee 10, 18, 140, 229 

Miami 102, 118 

Mississinewa 141 

Mississippi 11, 

24, 25, 57, 76, 79, 93, 94, 239 

Ohio 9, 10, 11, 12, 25, 32, 34, 

37, 55, 57, 60, 171, 191, 231 



Riyers— Continued. page. 

St. Joseph 10, 18, 230 

St. Lawrence 22, 24 

St. Mary 10, 18 

Tippecanoe 115, 213 

Wabash 10, 11, 14, 21, 32, 70 

99, 118, 229, 230, 231, 232 

White 11, 71, 

143, 145, 221, 225, 231, 277 

Roads 326, 327, 328 

Rogers, Lieui enant 71 

Rogers, Major 40, 41 

Rose, Dr. Joseph U 368 

Rose Polytechnic Institute 220 

Rosseau, Gen. Lovell H. . 248 

Rushville 350 

Saddle-bags 152 

Salem 232, 292 

Sanderson, Gen. W. L 248 

Santiago 317 

Santa Anna 247 

Sargant, Winthrop 86, 91, 92, 94, 338 

Saulsbury 357 

Sawyer, Andrew 142 

Secretary of State 161, 164, 366 

Seymore 293 

Schenk, Wm.C 95 

School System 195, 213, 254, 256 

Scott, Gen 88, 241 

Shawneetown 341 

Shunk, Capt. David 248 

Shelby, Gov. Isaac 149, 241 

Sites, Geo. F 253 

Shelly, Capt 76 

Slavery , 104, 105, 150 

Smelling, Capt 30 

Smith, Caleb B S68 

Smith, Col. Harry B 316 

Smith, Kirby 280, 282, 283 

Soldiers' Home 277, 287, 309 

South Bend 220 

Spain— Spaniards 19, 

27, 92, 93, 103, 114, 310, 317 

Spicely, Gen. W. T 248 

St. Clair, Gov. Arthur.... 84. 85, 86, 87, 88, 

89, 91, 94, 95, 109, 170, 338 

Stage Coach 225, 241, 244 

St. Louis 28, 48, 70, 339 

St. Mary 's Institute 220 

St. Mary's, Ohio 142,342 

St. Ange 36,46,48 

Statistician 163 

Stars and Stripes 79, 169 

State House 145, 146, 153, 163, 

192, 203, 226, 227, 321, 325 

State Museum 163 

State Normal. 223, 299 

State Senate— Senator 352, 363, 362, 367 

State Troops 382, 312 

Stephens, Alexander A 270 

Studebaker, Col. Geo. M 316 

Sullivan, Jeremiah 222 

Sunman 295 

Supreme Court 162 

Supt. Public Instruction. . 162, 164, 165, 203 
Surveying 189, 191 



382 



INDEX. 



PAGE. 

Tax 147, 301 

Tax Commission 163, 104. 302 

Taylor, Zachary 136, 241 

Teachers' Institutes 299 

Tecumseh . , 113, 115, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 
122, 123, 128, 130, 133, 134, 141, 309, 339 

Terre Haute 32, 124, 220, 231, 246 

Test, Charles H 143, 252 

Texas 246, 247, 248, 354, 356 

Thanksgiving Day 349 

Tharp, Rose Hardwick 269 

The Gazette 224 

ThePiophet....ll4. 115. 116, 117, 122, 125, 
126, 129, 130, 133, 141, 309 

The Prophet's Town 115, 117. 118, 

123, 124. 128, 339 

The Willing .. 71, 76, 77 

Thames 130, 141 

Timberlake, Colonel 286 

Tippecanoe 129, 130, 2S7, 309 

Tipton, Gen. John 142, 846 

Todd, Colonel... 78, 79, 318 

Township 193, 194 

Township Trustee 166. 303 

Turnpike 232 

Underground Railway 266, 277 

Union City 362 

Union Troops 285, 309 

United States.. .76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 84, 87, 
88. 90, 93, 94, 96, 107, 108, 
109, 121, 122, 130, 131, 133, 
135, 140, 142, 145, 154, 168, 
190, 195, 217, 248, 268, 314 
United States House of Rjpresenta- 

tives 353 

United States Navy 368 

United States Senate 95, 38 

United States Senators 156, 197, 

345, 351, 852, 3.'^6, 357, 361 

United States Troops o9, 122, 239, 317 

University 164, 214, 220 

Van Burcn 241 

Vance, i avid 95 

Vanderburg, Henry 94, 95, 102 

Veedersburg 366 

Vernon 293, 364 

Versailles 295 

Vice-President U. S 103, 251, 325, 368 

Vienna 293 



PAGE. 

Vigo, Frances 65, 67, 60, 70, 77, 118 

Vincennes.... 11, 30, 31, 32, 36, 38,50,63, 
65, 69, 71, 72, "56, 77, 80, 81, 82, 85, 84, 
91, 92, 97, 98. 99, 102, 106, 107, 108, 
109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 122, 123. 130, 
145, 147, 195, 202, 232, 317, 360, 361 

Vincennes, Frances Morgan 31, 36 

Virginia 56, 57, 65, 77, 78, 

171, 239, 251, 338, 340, 347 

Virginia Council 58 

Virginia Troops 78, 169 

Yoorhees, Daniel W 268 

Voyageurs 21, 70 

Wabash College 220 

Wallace. Gov. David.... 231, 235, 252. 349 

Wallace, Gen. Lew 247, 273, 283, 

290, 294, 368 

Wampum 16 

War- 
Black Hfiwk 238 

For the Union 267, 297, 362, 364 

Of Eighteen Hundred Twelve. 131, 132 

Mexican 246 

Pontiac's 39 

Revolutionary 18, 51, 53, 

54, 88, 134, 339 

Spanish- American 310, 314 

War Governor 3.^7 

Washington, 1). C. . . . 143, 239, 317, 351, 361 

Washington, George 37, 87, 93, 268 

Washington, Ind 232 

Wayne, Gen. Anthony,. 88, 89, 99, 338, 341 

Wea Village 264 

Wells, Captain 135 

Whitcomb, Governor 225, 226, 246, 

312, 335, 350, 351 

White Water Valley 221 

Wilcox, Major-General 290 

Wilkinson, Gen. James 88, 189 

Willard, AshbelP 354, 355, 358 

Wilder's Brigade 367 

Williams, Colonel 294 

Williams. James D 360, 361 

Wilson, Captain 123 

Winchester, General 140 

Winamac 120, 195 

Wisconsin 56, 84, 102 

Woollen, William Watson 369 

Woollen, William Wesley 345, 369 

Wright, Joseph A. 223, 352, 353, 354, 363, 365 



AUG 3I'I89S 



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